Death & Bereavement

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنِّي كَفَّنْتُ أَبِي فِي ثَوْبَيْنِ شَطَوِيَّيْنِ‌[2] كَانَ يُحْرِمُ فِيهِمَا وَ فِي قَمِيصٍ مِنْ قُمُصِهِ وَ عِمَامَةٍ كَانَتْ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع وَ فِي بُرْدٍ اشْتَرَيْتُهُ بِأَرْبَعِينَ دِينَاراً لَوْ كَانَ الْيَوْمَ لَسَاوَى أَرْبَعَمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ.

“I once, heard abu al-Hassan al-Awwal (a.s.), say, ‘I shrouded my father with two pieces of Shatawiyayn (name of a place in Egypt) fabric. He (the Imam) had used them for ’Ihram, and with a shirt of his shirts, a turban which Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), had used, and in a large sheet, which I purchased for forty dinars.

أَنَّ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ ع كَفَّنَ أُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ بِبُرْدٍ أَحْمَرَ حِبَرَةٍ وَ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً ع كَفَّنَ سَهْلَ بْنَ حُنَيْفٍ بِبُرْدٍ أَحْمَرَ حِبَرَةٍ[3].

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that abu al-Hassan (a.s.), shrouded ‘Usamah ibn Zayd with a red Burd which was made in Hibarah and Ali (a.s.), shrouded Sahl ibn Hunayf with a red Burd which was made in Hibarah.”

الْكَفَنُ يَكُونُ بُرْداً فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بُرْداً فَاجْعَلْهُ كُلَّهُ قُطْناً فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ عِمَامَةَ قُطْنٍ فَاجْعَلِ الْعِمَامَةَ سَابِرِيّاً[4].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Shroud can be made of Burd; if Burd is not available, then the whole shroud is of cotton. If a turban of cotton is not available, then Sabiriy fabric can be used for this purpose.’”

لَا يُكَفَّنُ الْمَيِّتُ بِالسَّوَادِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A deceased is not shrouded in black.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ‌[1] عَنْ ثِيَابٍ تُعْمَلُ بِالْبَصْرَةِ عَلَى عَمَلِ الْعَصْبِ الْيَمَانِيِ‌[2] مِنْ قَزٍّ وَ قُطْنٍ هَلْ يَصْلُحُ أَنْ يُكَفَّنَ فِيهَا الْمَوْتَى قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ الْقُطْنُ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْقَزِّ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the fabrics made in al-Basrah in the form of Yemenite workmanship out of silk or cotton if it can be used to shroud a deceased? He (the Imam) said, ‘If the amount of cotton in the fabric is more than the amount of silk, then it is permissible to use it for shrouding.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَلْ لِلْمَاءِ حَدٌّ مَحْدُودٌ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ لِعَلِيٍّ ص إِذَا أَنَا مِتُّ فَاسْتَقِ لِي سِتَّ قِرَبٍ مِنْ مَاءِ بِئْرِ غَرْسٍ‌[4] فَغَسِّلْنِي وَ كَفِّنِّي وَ حَنِّطْنِي فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ مِنْ غُسْلِي وَ كَفْنِي وَ تَحْنِيطِي فَخُذْ بِمَجَامِعِ كَفَنِي وَ أَجْلِسْنِي ثُمَّ سَلْنِي عَمَّا شِئْتَ فَوَ اللَّهِ لَا تَسْأَلُنِي عَنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ إِلَّا أَجَ

The Messenger of Allah said to Ali (a.s.), “When I die, bring six pails of water from Ghars well (name of a well) and give me Ghusl (bath) with it. Thereafter shroud me and apply hunut on me. When you complete hunut (applying camphor), then make me sit up, then ask me whatever you want, by Allah, of whatever you ask I

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِعَلِيٍّ ع‌ يَا عَلِيُّ إِذَا أَنَا مِتُّ فَغَسِّلْنِي بِسَبْعِ قِرَبٍ مِنْ بِئْرِ غَرْسٍ.

“O Ali, when I die give me Ghusl (bath) with seven pails of water from Ghars well.’””

كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع‌ فِي الْمَاءِ الَّذِي‌ يُغَسَّلُ بِهِ الْمَيِّتُ كَمْ حَدُّهُ فَوَقَّعَ ع حَدُّ غُسْلِ الْمَيِّتِ يُغْسَلُ حَتَّى يَطْهُرَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ قَالَ وَ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ هَلْ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُغَسَّلَ الْمَيِّتُ وَ مَاؤُهُ الَّذِي يُصَبُّ عَلَيْهِ يَدْخُلُ إِلَى بِئْرِ كَنِيفٍ أَوِ الرَّجُلُ يَتَوَضَّأُ وُضُوءَ الصَّلَاةِ أَنْ يُصَبَّ مَاءُ وُضُوئِهِ فِي كَنِيفٍ فَوَق

“I once wrote to abu Muhammad (a.s.), ‘How much water is needed for Ghusl (bath) of a deceased person?’ The answer came with the signature of the Imam, ‘The amount of water needed is to wash the dead body clean, by the will Allah.’ He (the narrator) has said that he wrote again to him (the Imam) asking, ‘Is it permissi

السُّنَّةُ فِي الْحَنُوطِ ثَلَاثَةَ عَشَرَ دِرْهَماً وَ ثُلُثٌ أَكْثَرُهُ وَ قَالَ إِنَّ جَبْرَئِيلَ ع نَزَلَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص بِحَنُوطٍ وَ كَانَ وَزْنُهُ أَرْبَعِينَ دِرْهَماً فَقَسَمَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص ثَلَاثَةَ أَجْزَاءٍ جُزْءٌ لَهُ وَ جُزْءٌ لِعَلِيٍّ وَ جُزْءٌ لِفَاطِمَةَ ع.

“The Sunnah about hunut (application of camphor) is thirteen dirham (in weight) and one third at most. He (the Imam) has said that Jibril came to the Messenger of Allah with hunut (camphor) that weighed forty dirhams. The Messenger of Allah divided it in three part: one for himself, one for Ali, and one for Fatimah, ‘A

أَقَلُّ مَا يُجْزِئُ مِنَ الْكَافُورِ لِلْمَيِّتِ مِثْقَالٌ. - وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ الْكَاهِلِيِّ وَ حُسَيْنِ بْنِ الْمُخْتَارِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: الْقَصْدُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَرْبَعَةُ مَثَاقِيلَ‌

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The minimum camphor for a deceased is one Mithqal (4.68 g).”’ In the narration of al-Kahiliy and Husayn ibn al-Mukhtar from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), it is said that a balanced amount of camphor for this purpose is four Mithqal.

يُوضَعُ لِلْمَيِّتِ جَرِيدَتَانِ وَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْيَمِينِ وَ الْأُخْرَى فِي الْأَيْسَرِ قَالَ قَالَ الْجَرِيدَةُ تَنْفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنَ وَ الْكَافِرَ[4].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Two pieces of twig are placed with a deceased, one on the right and the other on the left.’ He (the narrator) has said, that he (the Imam) said, ‘Al-Jaridah (twig of palm tree) benefits both, believers and non-believers.’”

سَمِعْتُ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيَّ يَسْأَلُهُ‌[1] عَنِ التَّخْضِيرِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ هَلَكَ فَأُوذِنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِمَوْتِهِ فَقَالَ لِمَنْ يَلِيهِ مِنْ قَرَابَتِهِ خَضِّرُوا صَاحِبَكُمْ فَمَا أَقَلَّ الْمُخَضَّرِينَ قَالَ وَ مَا التَّخْضِيرُ قَالَ جَرِيدَةٌ خَضْرَاءُ تُوضَعُ مِنْ أَصْلِ الْيَدَيْنِ إِلَى التَّرْقُوَةِ.

once a man from al-Ansar died and the Messenger of Allah was asked to attend his funeral. He (the Messenger of Allah) asked one of the relatives of the deceased to green up their fellow man; greening people are very few.’ They asked, ‘What is greening?’ He (the Messenger of Allah) replied, ‘It is a fresh twig which is

تُؤْخَذُ جَرِيدَةٌ رَطْبَةٌ قَدْرَ ذِرَاعٍ فَتُوضَعُ وَ أَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ مِنْ عِنْدِ تَرْقُوَتِهِ إِلَى يَدِهِ تُلَفُّ مَعَ ثِيَابِهِ قَالَ وَ قَالَ الرَّجُلُ لَقِيتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بَعْدُ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ قَدْ حَدَّثْتُ بِهِ يَحْيَى بْنَ عُبَادَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Two pieces of fresh twigs one yard in length are placed with a deceased’ - pointing with his hand - ‘one end from collar bones to the hands wrapped with cloth.’ He (the narrator) has said that the man then said, ‘I met abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), afterwards and asked him (the Imam) about i

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَ رَأَيْتَ الْمَيِّتَ إِذَا مَاتَ لِمَ تُجْعَلُ مَعَهُ الْجَرِيدَةُ قَالَ يَتَجَافَى عَنْهُ الْعَذَابُ وَ الْحِسَابُ مَا دَامَ الْعُودُ رَطْباً قَالَ وَ الْعَذَابُ كُلُّهُ فِي يَوْمٍ وَاحِدٍ فِي سَاعَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ قَدْرَ مَا يُدْخَلُ الْقَبْرَ وَ يَرْجِعُ الْقَوْمُ وَ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَتِ السَّعَفَتَانِ لِذَلِكَ فَلَا يُصِيبُهُ عَذَابٌ وَ لَا حِسَابٌ بَعْدَ جُفُوفِهِمَا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), what happens if two fresh al-Jaridah (twig of palm tree) are not placed with a deceased? He (the Imam) said, ‘Torture and accounting is kept away from him as long as the al-Jaridah (twig of palm tree) are fresh. All tortures take place in one day in one hour for a duration within which

قَالَ: إِنَّ الْجَرِيدَةَ قَدْرُ شِبْرٍ تُوضَعُ وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ التَّرْقُوَةِ إِلَى مَا بَلَغَتْ مِمَّا يَلِي الْجِلْدَ وَ الْأُخْرَى فِي الْأَيْسَرِ مِنْ عِنْدِ التَّرْقُوَةِ إِلَى مَا بَلَغَتْ مِنْ فَوْقِ الْقَمِيصِ.

“He (the Imam) has said, ‘Al-Jaridah (twigs of palm tree) are of the size of one Shibr (ten inches) of which one is placed with one end near the collarbones downward as far as it reaches next to the skin, and the other on the left side near the collarbones downward as far as it reaches over the shirt.’”

تُوضَعُ لِلْمَيِّتِ جَرِيدَتَانِ وَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْأَيْمَنِ وَ الْأُخْرَى فِي الْأَيْسَرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that two pieces of al-Jaridah (twig of palm tree) are placed with a deceased: one on the right and the other on the left side.’”

قِيلَ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ تُوضَعُ مَعَ الْمَيِّتِ الْجَرِيدَةُ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَتَجَافَى عَنْهُ الْعَذَابُ مَا دَامَتْ رَطْبَةً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked, ‘Why a twig is placed with a deceased? He (the Imam) replied, ‘Torture is kept away from him as long as it (twig) is fresh.”’

قِيلَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ رُبَّمَا حَضَرَنِي مَنْ أَخَافُهُ فَلَا يُمْكِنُ وَضْعُ الْجَرِيدَةِ عَلَى مَا رَوَيْتَنَا قَالَ أَدْخِلْهَا حَيْثُ مَا أَمْكَنَ.

“It was said to him (the Imam), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, because of the presence of fear I may not be able to place al-Jaridah (twig of palm tree) as you have told us.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Place them just as it is possible for you to do.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْجَرِيدَةِ تُوضَعُ فِي الْقَبْرِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the twig which is placed in the grave. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

عُودَ السِّدْرِ قِيلَ فَإِنْ لَمْ نَقْدِرْ عَلَى السِّدْرِ فَقَالَ عُودَ الْخِلَافِ‌[4].

“We said to him (the Imam) (a.s.), ‘We pray to Allah to keep our souls in service for your cause. What should we do if we cannot find al-Jaridah (twig of palm tree)? He (the Imam) said, ‘Twig of berry tree is also good.’ It then was asked, ‘What should be done if twig of berry tree is also not found? He (the Imam) said

أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ يَسْأَلُهُ‌[1] عَنِ الْجَرِيدَةِ إِذَا لَمْ نَجِدْ نَجْعَلُ بَدَلَهَا غَيْرَهَا فِي مَوْضِعٍ لَا يُمْكِنُ النَّخْلُ فَكَتَبَ يَجُوزُ إِذَا أُعْوِزَتِ الْجَرِيدَةُ[2] وَ الْجَرِيدَةُ أَفْضَلُ وَ بِهِ جَاءَتِ الرِّوَايَةُ

“I wrote to him (the Imam) asking about al-Jaridah (palm tree twig) if it is not available, can any other branch be used if palm tree is not available? He (the Imam) wrote, ‘It is permissible if al-Jaridah (palm tree twig) is not available, but al-Jaridah (palm tree twig) is better; there is Hadith about it.’”

يُجْعَلُ بَدَلَهَا عُودُ الرُّمَّانِ.

12. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated in another Hadith that the branch of pomegranate is placed in place of al- Jaridah (palm tree twig). H 4365, Ch. 24, 13

سَأَلْتُهُ‌[3] عَنِ الْجَرِيدَةِ تُوضَعُ مِنْ دُونِ الثِّيَابِ أَوْ مِنْ فَوْقِهَا قَالَ فَوْقَ الْقَمِيصِ وَ دُونَ الْخَاصِرَةِ فَسَأَلْتُهُ مِنْ أَيِّ جَانِبٍ فَقَالَ مِنَ الْجَانِبِ الْأَيْمَنِ.

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Jameel who said, ‘I asked him asws about the twig to be placed below the cloth (shroud), or from above it?’ He asws said: ‘Above the shirt and below the loins’. So I asked him asws , ‘From which side?’ So he asws said: ‘On the right side’.

قُلْتُ لَهُ‌[4] مَاتَ مَيِّتٌ وَ هُوَ جُنُبٌ كَيْفَ يُغَسَّلُ وَ مَا يُجْزِئُهُ مِنَ الْمَاءِ فَقَالَ يُغَسَّلُ غُسْلًا وَاحِداً يُجْزِئُ ذَلِكَ عَنْهُ لِجَنَابَتِهِ وَ لِغُسْلِ الْمَيِّتِ لِأَنَّهُمَا حُرْمَتَانِ اجْتَمَعَتَا فِي حُرْمَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ[5].

“I once said to him (the Imam) (a.s.), that there is one who has died after sexual relation but before Ghusl (bath). How is Ghusl (bath) prescribed for him and how much water is needed? He (the Imam) said, ’Only one Ghusl (bath) is sufficient for both reasons, each of which is inviolable requiring one inviolable act (G

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ إِذَا مَاتَتْ فِي نِفَاسِهَا كَيْفَ تُغَسَّلُ قَالَ مِثْلَ غُسْلِ الطَّاهِرَةِ وَ كَذَلِكَ الْحَائِضُ وَ كَذَلِكَ الْجُنُبُ إِنَّمَا يُغَسَّلُ غُسْلًا وَاحِداً فَقَطْ.

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who dies during her child- birth, how Ghusl (bath) to be given for her? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is just like cleansing Ghusl (bath) after blood discharge is over and so also is the case with a woman during her Hayd (menses) and after sexual relation: only o

فِي الْمَرْأَةِ إِذَا مَاتَتْ نُفَسَاءَ وَ كَثُرَ دَمُهَا أُدْخِلَتْ إِلَى السُّرَّةِ فِي الْأَدَمِ أَوْ مِثْلِ الْأَدَمِ نَظِيفٍ ثُمَّ تُكَفَّنُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A woman, who dies during her child-birth with a great deal of blood discharge, is placed in a clean bag of treated skin up to her bellybutton; then she is shrouded.’”

سَأَلْتُ الْعَبْدَ الصَّالِحَ ع عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ تَمُوتُ وَ وَلَدُهَا فِي بَطْنِهَا قَالَ يُشَقُّ بَطْنُهَا وَ يُخْرَجُ وَلَدُهَا.

“I once asked the virtuous servant of Allah about the case of a woman who dies with her child in her womb. He (the Imam) (a.s.), said, ‘Her belly is opened to remove her child.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ تَمُوتُ وَ يَتَحَرَّكُ الْوَلَدُ فِي بَطْنِهَا أَ يُشَقُّ بَطْنُهَا وَ يُسْتَخْرَجُ وَلَدُهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ. - وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ زَادَ فِيهِ‌ يُخْرَجُ الْوَلَدُ وَ يُخَاطُ بَطْنُهَا[1].

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who dies and the baby moves inside her belly; is it prescribed to cut open to take the baby out. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it must be cut open.’ In the narration of Ibn Abi ‘Umayr it is added that after taking out the baby the cut is stitched to close her b

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِذَا مَاتَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ وَ فِي بَطْنِهَا وَلَدٌ يَتَحَرَّكُ شُقَّ بَطْنُهَا وَ يُخْرَجُ الْوَلَدُ وَ قَالَ فِي الْمَرْأَةِ تَمُوتُ فِي بَطْنِهَا الْوَلَدُ فَيُتَخَوَّفُ عَلَيْهَا قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يُدْخِلَ الرَّجُلُ يَدَهُ فَيُقَطِّعَهُ وَ يُخْرِجَهُ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘If a woman dies and in her belly is a child that moves, her belly is cut open to take the baby out.’ He (the Imam), about the case of a woman in whose belly the baby dies and there is fear for her life, has said, ‘A man can use his hand to take

لَا يُمَسُّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ شَعْرٌ وَ لَا ظُفُرٌ وَ إِنْ سَقَطَ مِنْهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَاجْعَلْهُ فِي كَفَنِهِ.[3]

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Nothing of the hairs or nails of a deceased is touched and if any of such things fall off, you must place them in his shroud.’”

كَرِهَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص أَنْ تُحْلَقَ عَانَةُ الْمَيِّتِ إِذَا غُسِّلَ أَوْ يُقَلَّمَ لَهُ ظُفُرٌ أَوْ يُجَزَّ لَهُ شَعْرٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. ‘’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said that it is detestable to shave a dead persons’ pubic hair, when giving Ghusl (bath), cut his nails or trim his hairs.’”

كُرِهَ أَنْ يُقَصَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ ظُفُرٌ أَوْ يُقَصَّ لَهُ شَعْرٌ أَوْ تُحْلَقَ لَهُ عَانَةٌ أَوْ يُغَمَّضَ لَهُ مَفْصِلٌ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Cutting the fingernails of a dead person, trimming hairs or shaving pubic hairs or softening body joints are detested matters.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْمَيِّتِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ الشَّعْرُ فَيُحْلَقُ عَنْهُ أَوْ يُقَلَّمُ قَالَ لَا يُمَسُّ مِنْهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ اغْسِلْهُ وَ ادْفِنْهُ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a dead person whose body has hairs if it is required to shave or trim them. He (the Imam) said, ‘Nothing as such must be touched. Just give him Ghusl (bath) and bury.’”

إِذَا خَرَجَ مِنْ مَنْخِرِ الْمَيِّتِ الدَّمُ أَوِ الشَّيْ‌ءُ بَعْدَ الْغُسْلِ وَ أَصَابَ الْعِمَامَةَ أَوِ الْكَفَنَ قَرِّضْهُ بِالْمِقْرَاضِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If anything comes out of the nostrils of a deceased, like blood and so on, after Ghusl (bath) and such things come in contact with turban or shroud, such parts (of shroud) must be cut off and disposed.’”

إِذَا غُسِّلَ الْمَيِّتُ ثُمَّ أَحْدَثَ بَعْدَ الْغُسْلِ فَإِنَّهُ يُغْسَلُ الْحَدَثُ وَ لَا يُعَادُ الْغُسْلُ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘After Ghusl (bath), if something happens, only that part is washed and repeating Ghusl (bath) is not required.’”

إِذَا خَرَجَ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ شَيْ‌ءٌ بَعْدَ مَا يُكَفَّنُ فَأَصَابَ الْكَفَنَ قُرِضَ مِنْهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If after shrouding a certain part of it (cloth) becomes unclean, it must be cut off and disposed.’”

تُغَسِّلُهُ امْرَأَتُهُ أَوْ ذَاتُ قَرَابَةٍ إِنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ وَ تَصُبُّ النِّسَاءُ عَلَيْهِ الْمَاءَ صَبّاً وَ فِي الْمَرْأَةِ إِذَا مَاتَتْ يُدْخِلُ زَوْجُهَا يَدَهُ تَحْتَ قَمِيصِهَا فَيُغَسِّلُهَا.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about a man who dies and there is no one to give him Ghusl (bath) except women. He (the Imam) said that his wife or a relative woman could give him Ghusl (bath). Women just pour water on him. In the case of a woman, her husband gives her Ghusl (bath) by reaching with his hand under her

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ أَ يَصْلُحُ لَهُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى امْرَأَتِهِ حِينَ تَمُوتُ أَوْ يُغَسِّلَهَا إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ‌[1] عِنْدَهَا مَنْ يُغَسِّلُهَا وَ عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ هَلْ تَنْظُرُ إِلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ مِنْ زَوْجِهَا حِينَ يَمُوتُ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ إِنَّمَا يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ أَهْلُ الْمَرْأَةِ كَرَاهَةَ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ زَوْجُهَا إِلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ يَكْرَهُونَهُ مِنْهَا.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man if he can look at his wife when she is dying or give her Ghusl (bath) if there is no one for her Ghusl (bath) and if a woman can look at her husband in such a condition. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful. Only relatives of the woman may not like her husband to look

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُغَسِّلُ امْرَأَتَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الثَّوْبِ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man if he can give Ghusl (bath) to his dead wife from behind a cloth. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so from behind a cloth.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَمُوتُ وَ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ مَنْ يُغَسِّلُهُ إِلَّا النِّسَاءُ هَلْ تُغَسِّلُهُ النِّسَاءُ فَقَالَ تُغَسِّلُهُ امْرَأَتُهُ أَوْ ذَاتُ مَحْرَمِهِ وَ تَصُبُّ عَلَيْهِ النِّسَاءُ الْمَاءَ صَبّاً مِنْ فَوْقِ الثِّيَابِ‌[2].

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who dies and there is no one to give him Ghusl (bath) except women. He (the Imam) said, ‘His wife can give him Ghusl (bath) or a woman of his relatives and other woman can just pour water from behind the cloth.’”

سَمِعْتُ صَاحِباً لَنَا يَسْأَلُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ تَمُوتُ مَعَ رِجَالٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِمْ ذُو مَحْرَمٍ- هَلْ يُغَسِّلُونَهَا وَ عَلَيْهَا ثِيَابُهَا قَالَ إِذاً يُدْخَلَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ‌[1] وَ لَكِنْ يَغْسِلُونَ كَفَّيْهَا.

“I once heard a friend of ours ask abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a woman who dies among men and none of them is of her relatives in that case can they give her Ghusl (bath) with her clothes on her. He (the Imam) said, ‘Thereby that feeling is apt to get in them, instead they must only wash her both palms (hands).”’

سَأَلْتُهُ‌[2] عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ إِذَا مَاتَتْ فَقَالَ يُدْخِلُ زَوْجُهَا يَدَهُ تَحْتَ قَمِيصِهَا إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ‌[3].

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a woman who dies. He (the Imam) said, ‘Her husband can reach out with his hand under her shirt up to the elbows.’”

يُدْفَنُ وَ لَا يُغَسَّلُ وَ قَالَ فِي الْمَرْأَةِ تَكُونُ مَعَ الرِّجَالِ بِتِلْكَ الْمَنْزِلَةِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ مَعَهَا زَوْجُهَا فَإِنْ كَانَ مَعَهَا زَوْجُهَا فَلْيُغَسِّلْهَا مِنْ فَوْقِ الدِّرْعِ وَ يَسْكُبُ عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ سَكْباً وَ لْتُغَسِّلْهُ امْرَأَتُهُ إِذَا مَاتَ وَ الْمَرْأَةُ لَيْسَتْ مِثْلَ الرَّجُلِ الْمَرْأَةُ أَسْوَأُ مَنْظَراً حِينَ تَمُوتُ.

“About a man who dies on a journey or a strage land and there is no one other than women with him, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He is buried without Ghusl (bath).’ He (the Imam) said that the same rule applies to woman in such condition unless her husband is among them, in which case he gives her Ghusl (bath) from

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَخْرُجُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَ مَعَهُ امْرَأَتُهُ يُغَسِّلُهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ أُمَّهُ وَ أُخْتَهُ وَ نَحْوَ هَذَا يُلْقِي عَلَى عَوْرَتِهَا خِرْقَةً.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who goes on a journey with his wife (and she dies), can he give her Ghusl (bath)? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so and so also is the case of his mother and sister. Such person’s private parts are covered with a piece of cloth.’”

سَمِعْتُ صَاحِباً لَنَا يَسْأَلُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ تَمُوتُ مَعَ رِجَالٍ لَيْسَ مَعَهُمْ ذُو مَحْرَمٍ هَلْ يُغَسِّلُونَهَا وَ عَلَيْهَا ثِيَابُهَا فَقَالَ إِذاً يُدْخَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ‌[4] وَ لَكِنْ يَغْسِلُونَ كَفَّيْهَا.

“I once heard a friend of us ask abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a woman who dies among men and none of them is of her relatives if they can give her Ghusl (bath) with her clothes on her. He (the Imam) said, ‘Thereby that feeling is apt to get in them, instead they must only wash her both palms (hands).”’

يُدْخِلُ زَوْجُهَا يَدَهُ تَحْتَ قَمِيصِهَا فَيُغَسِّلُهَا إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ.

“About the case of a woman who dies and there is no other woman to give her Ghusl (bath), abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Her husband can reach out with his hand up to his elbow under her shirt to give her Ghusl (bath).”’

سَأَلْتُهُ‌[1] عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُغَسِّلُ امْرَأَتَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنَّمَا يَمْنَعُهَا أَهْلُهَا تَعَصُّباً.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a woman who dies, if her husband can give her Ghusl (bath). He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, but her relatives may hinder due to intolerance.’”

تُغَسِّلُهُ عَمَّتُهُ وَ خَالَتُهُ فِي قَمِيصِهِ وَ لَا تَقْرَبُهُ النَّصَارَى وَ عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ تَمُوتُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَ لَيْسَ مَعَهَا امْرَأَةٌ مُسْلِمَةٌ وَ مَعَهَا نِسَاءٌ نَصَارَى وَ عَمُّهَا وَ خَالُهَا مُسْلِمَانِ قَالَ يُغَسِّلَانِهَا وَ لَا تَقْرَبُهَا النَّصْرَانِيَّةُ كَمَا كَانَتِ الْمُسْلِمَةُ تُغَسِّلُهَا غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهَا دِرْعٌ فَيُصَبُّ الْمَاءُ مِنْ فَوْقِ الدِّرْعِ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ م

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about a Muslim man who dies on a journey and there is no other Muslim man with him but there are Christian men with him and his paternal and maternal aunts who are Muslimah how to be given Ghusl (bath) is give to him. He (the Imam) said, ‘His aunts must give him Ghusl (bath) from behin

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَنْ غَسَّلَ فَاطِمَةَ ع قَالَ ذَاكَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع كَأَنَّكَ اسْتَفْظَعْتَ ذَلِكَ‌[2] مِنْ قَوْلِهِ فَقَالَ لِي كَأَنَّكَ ضِقْتَ مِمَّا أَخْبَرْتُكَ فَقُلْتُ قَدْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ لِي لَا تَضِيقَنَّ فَإِنَّهَا صِدِّيقَةٌ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُغَسِّلُهَا إِلَّا صِدِّيقٌ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ مَرْيَمَ ع لَمْ يُغَسِّلْهَا إِلَّا عِيسَى ع قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَم

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Who gave Ghusl (bath) to Fatimah, ‘Alayha al- Salam ? He (the Imam) said, ‘That was ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). It seems as if you find it astonishing to hear such words.’ He (the Imam) said to me, ‘It seems you are strained because of what I told you.’ I said, ‘I pray to Allah to ke

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع حَدِّثْنِي عَنِ الصَّبِيِّ إِلَى كَمْ تُغَسِّلُهُ النِّسَاءُ فَقَالَ إِلَى ثَلَاثِ سِنِينَ.

‘It is up to three years of age.’”