The Book on Dying People

إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تُحَنِّطَ الْمَيِّتَ فَاعْمِدْ إِلَى الْكَافُورِ فَامْسَحْ بِهِ آثَارَ السُّجُودِ مِنْهُ وَ مَفَاصِلَهُ كُلَّهَا وَ رَأْسَهُ وَ لِحْيَتَهُ وَ عَلَى صَدْرِهِ مِنَ الْحَنُوطِ وَ قَالَ حَنُوطُ الرَّجُلِ وَ الْمَرْأَةِ سَوَاءٌ وَ قَالَ وَ أَكْرَهُ أَنْ يُتْبَعَ بِمِجْمَرَةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When applying camphor on a deceased person, apply it on the seven parts of the body which are placed on the ground during Sujud (prostrations), and all of the joints of the body, his head, beard and on his chest.’ He (the Imam) said that hunut of man and woman is the same.’ He (the Im

لَا إِنَّمَا الْكَفَنُ الْمَفْرُوضُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَثْوَابٍ وَ ثَوْبٌ تَامٌّ لَا أَقَلَّ مِنْهُ يُوَارِي جَسَدَهُ كُلَّهُ فَمَا زَادَ فَهُوَ سُنَّةٌ إِلَى أَنْ يَبْلُغَ خَمْسَةَ أَثْوَابٍ فَمَا زَادَ فَهُوَ مُبْتَدَعٌ وَ الْعِمَامَةُ سُنَّةٌ وَ قَالَ أَمَرَ النَّبِيُّ ص بِالْعِمَامَةِ وَ عُمِّمَ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ بَعَثَ إِلَيْنَا الشَّيْخُ الصَّادِقُ ع وَ نَحْنُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ لَمَّا مَاتَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ الْحَذَّاءُ بِدِ

“Once we asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), if turban is part of shroud for a deceased. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not part of it. The obligatory shroud consist of three pieces of cloths, one over all; the minimum of which must be large enough to cover the whole body and any extra is of the Sunnah up to five pieces and more

الْمَيِّتُ يُكَفَّنُ فِي ثَلَاثَةٍ سِوَى الْعِمَامَةِ وَ الْخِرْقَةِ يَشُدُّ بِهَا وَرِكَيْهِ لِكَيْلَا يَبْدُوَ مِنْهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ الْخِرْقَةُ وَ الْعِمَامَةُ لَا بُدَّ مِنْهُمَا وَ لَيْسَتَا مِنَ الْكَفَنِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A deceased must be shrouded with three pieces of cloth besides turban, and one piece which is wrapped around the hips, so that nothing is exposed. The piece of cloth and turban are necessary but they are not part of shroud.’”

كَتَبَ أَبِي فِي وَصِيَّتِهِ أَنْ أُكَفِّنَهُ فِي ثَلَاثَةِ أَثْوَابٍ أَحَدُهَا رِدَاءٌ لَهُ حِبَرَةٌ كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِيهِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَ ثَوْبٌ آخَرُ وَ قَمِيصٌ فَقُلْتُ لِأَبِي لِمَ تَكْتُبُ هَذَا فَقَالَ أَخَافُ أَنْ يَغْلِبَكَ النَّاسُ وَ إِنْ قَالُوا كَفِّنْهُ فِي أَرْبَعَةٍ أَوْ خَمْسَةٍ فَلَا تَفْعَلْ‌[2] وَ عَمِّمْنِي بِعِمَامَةٍ وَ لَيْسَ تُعَدُّ الْعِمَامَةُ مِنَ الْكَفَنِ إِنَّمَا يُعَدُّ مَا يُلَفّ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘My father (a.s.), wrote in his will to me to shroud him with three pieces of cloth, one was a gown made in Hibarah with which he performed Salah (prayer) on Fridays and another piece of cloth, and a shirt. I asked my father (a.s.), “Why do you write these things?” He (the Imam) replie

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي أَغْسِلُ الْمَوْتَى قَالَ وَ تُحْسِنُ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَغْسِلُ فَقَالَ إِذَا غَسَلْتَ فَارْفُقْ بِهِ وَ لَا تَغْمِزْهُ وَ لَا تَمَسَّ مَسَامِعَهُ بِكَافُورٍ وَ إِذَا عَمَّمْتَهُ فَلَا تُعَمِّمْهُ عِمَّةَ الْأَعْرَابِيِّ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ قَالَ خُذِ الْعِمَامَةَ مِنْ وَسَطِهَا وَ انْشُرْهَا عَلَى رَأْسِهِ ثُمَّ رُدَّهَا إِلَى خَلْفِهِ وَ اطْرَحْ طَرَفَيْهَا عَلَى صَدْرِهِ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that I give Ghusl (bath) to the deceased. He (the Imam) said, ‘Treat it very gently, do not pinch his body, do not touch his ears with camphor and when preparing turban for him, do not wrap it like the turban of an Arab.’ I then asked, ‘How must I do it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Hold

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ بِالْكَفَنِ قَالَ تَأْخُذُ خِرْقَةً فَتَشُدُّ بِهَا عَلَى مَقْعَدَتِهِ وَ رِجْلَيْهِ قُلْتُ فَالْإِزَارُ[1] قَالَ إِنَّهَا لَا تُعَدُّ شَيْئاً إِنَّمَا تَصْنَعُ لِيُضَمَّ مَا هُنَاكَ لِئَلَّا يَخْرُجَ مِنْهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ مَا يُصْنَعُ مِنَ الْقُطْنِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْهَا ثُمَّ يُخْرَقُ الْقَمِيصُ إِذَا غُسِّلَ وَ يُنْزَعُ مِنْ رِجْلَيْهِ‌[2] قَالَ ثُمَّ الْكَفَنُ قَمِيصٌ غَيْرُ

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about how shroud is prepared. He (the Imam) said, ‘Take one piece of cloth to wrap around his hips and legs.’ I asked about loincloth. He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not count for anything. It is only to hold that area so that nothing is exposed. The cotton that is use is better than

فِي الْعِمَامَةِ لِلْمَيِّتِ فَقَالَ حَنِّكْهُ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the turban for a deceased. He (the Imam) said, ‘Wrap it around his head.’”

يُكَفَّنُ الْمَيِّتُ فِي خَمْسَةِ أَثْوَابٍ قَمِيصٍ لَا يُزَرُّ عَلَيْهِ‌[5] وَ إِزَارٍ وَ خِرْقَةٍ يُعَصَّبُ بِهَا وَسَطُهُ وَ بُرْدٍ يُلَفُّ فِيهِ وَ عِمَامَةٍ يُعَمَّمُ بِهَا وَ يُلْقَى فَضْلُهَا عَلَى صَدْرِهِ.

‘Five pieces of cloth are used to shroud a deceased: a shirt without button, a loincloth, a piece to wrap therewith his midsection, an overall sheet to wrap him in it, a turban that is wrapped around his head and the extra is allowed to hang down his chest.’”

الْكَافُورُ هُوَ الْحَنُوطُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Camphor is for hunut.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِي فِي كَفْنِ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ الْحَذَّاءِ إِنَّمَا الْحَنُوطُ الْكَافُورُ وَ لَكِنِ اذْهَبْ فَاصْنَعْ كَمَا يَصْنَعُ النَّاسُ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me about the shroud of abu ‘Ubaydah al-Hadhdha’, ‘Camphor is for hunut; however, go and do what people do.’”

مَاتَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ الْحَذَّاءُ وَ أَنَا بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِدِينَارٍ وَ قَالَ اشْتَرِ بِهَذَا حَنُوطاً وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْحَنُوطَ هُوَ الْكَافُورُ وَ لَكِنِ اصْنَعْ كَمَا يَصْنَعُ النَّاسُ قَالَ فَلَمَّا مَضَيْتُ أَتْبَعَنِي بِدِينَارٍ وَ قَالَ اشْتَرِ بِهَذَا كَافُوراً.

“Abu ‘Ubaydah al-Hadhdha’ died and I was in al-Madinah. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), sent a dinar and said, ‘Buy with it hunut and take notice that hunut is camphor; however, do as people do.’ When I went, he (the Imam) sent a dinar and said, ‘Buy camphor with it.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْحَنُوطِ لِلْمَيِّتِ قَالَ اجْعَلْهُ فِي مَسَاجِدِهِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about hunut for a deceased. He (the Imam) said, ‘Apply it on the parts of his body used during prostration.’”

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص نَهَى أَنْ يُوضَعَ عَلَى النَّعْشِ الْحَنُوطُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Holy prophet prohibited placing of hunut on a coffin.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي كَمْ تُكَفَّنُ الْمَرْأَةُ قَالَ تُكَفَّنُ فِي خَمْسَةِ أَثْوَابٍ أَحَدُهَا الْخِمَارُ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about how many pieces of fabric must be used for shrouding a woman. He (the Imam) said, ‘Five pieces of fabric must be used for shrouding a woman, of which one is al-Khimar (veil)”

سَأَلْتُهُ كَيْفَ تُكَفَّنُ الْمَرْأَةُ فَقَالَ كَمَا يُكَفَّنُ الرَّجُلُ غَيْرَ أَنَّهَا تُشَدُّ عَلَى ثَدْيَيْهَا خِرْقَةٌ تَضُمُّ الثَّدْيَ إِلَى الصَّدْرِ وَ تُشَدُّ عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا وَ يُصْنَعُ لَهَا الْقُطْنُ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يُصْنَعُ لِلرِّجَالِ وَ يُحْشَى الْقُبُلُ وَ الدُّبُرُ بِالْقُطْنِ وَ الْحَنُوطِ ثُمَّ تُشَدُّ عَلَيْهَا الْخِرْقَةُ شَدّاً شَدِيداً.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about how must a woman be shrouded. He (the Imam) said, ‘A deceased woman is shrouded just like a deceased man, except that a piece of fabric is used to tie down her breasts to her chest, with the other end tied down behind her back. More cotton and camphor is used for hunut and to

يُكَفَّنُ الرَّجُلُ فِي ثَلَاثَةِ أَثْوَابٍ وَ الْمَرْأَةُ إِذَا كَانَتْ عَظِيمَةً فِي خَمْسَةٍ دِرْعٍ وَ مِنْطَقٍ وَ خِمَارٍ وَ لِفَافَتَيْنِ‌[2].

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘A deceased man is shrouded in three pieces of fabrics. A deceased woman of greatness is shrouded with five pieces of fabrics, the shirt, loincloth, veil and the two pieces of fabric (to tie down around her chest and the lower part of her body from the waist down to her knees).”

لَا يُجَمَّرُ الْكَفَنُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A shroud is not perfumed”

لَا يُسَخَّنُ الْمَاءُ لِلْمَيِّتِ‌[3] وَ لَا يُعَجَّلُ لَهُ النَّارُ وَ لَا يُحَنَّطُ بِمِسْكٍ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘There is no need for warming up of water for Ghusl (bath) of a deceased, starting up a fire and perfuming the shroud.”’

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ لَا تُجَمِّرُوا الْأَكْفَانَ وَ لَا تَمْسَحُوا مَوْتَاكُمْ بِالطِّيبِ إِلَّا بِالْكَافُورِ فَإِنَّ الْمَيِّتَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْمُحْرِمِ‌[4].

‘You must not perfume shrouds and your deceased one’s except with camphor; a deceased person is like one in the state of Ihram.’”

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص نَهَى أَنْ تُتْبَعَ جَنَازَةٌ بِمِجْمَرَةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Holy prophet, has said, ‘You must not walk behind the procession for a deceased with a brazier, censer.’”

أَجِيدُوا أَكْفَانَ مَوْتَاكُمْ فَإِنَّهَا زِينَتُهُمْ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Prepare good quality shroud for your deceased ones; it is beautification for them.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَيْسَ مِنْ لِبَاسِكُمْ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَحْسَنَ مِنَ الْبَيَاضِ فَأَلْبِسُوهُ مَوْتَاكُمْ.

‘In your dresses the best is white. Dress up with them your deceased ones also.’”

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ لَيْسَ مِنْ لِبَاسِكُمْ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَحْسَنَ مِنَ الْبَيَاضِ فَأَلْبِسُوهُ وَ كَفِّنُوا فِيهِ مَوْتَاكُمْ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that the Holy prophet has said, ‘No other clothes in your clothes is better than white, so dress up and shroud your deceased ones in white.”

يُسْتَحَبُّ أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي كَفَنِهِ ثَوْبٌ كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِيهِ نَظِيفٌ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ‌[2] يُسْتَحَبُّ أَنْ يُكَفَّنَ فِيمَا كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِيهِ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘It is desirable to keep for shroud a piece which one has used in Salah (prayer). It should be clean; it is desirable.”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى مِنْ كِسْوَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ شَيْئاً فَقَضَى بِبَعْضِهِ حَاجَتَهُ وَ بَقِيَ بَعْضُهُ فِي يَدِهِ هَلْ يَصْلُحُ بَيْعُهُ قَالَ يَبِيعُ مَا أَرَادَ وَ يَهَبُ مَا لَمْ يُرِدْ وَ يَسْتَنْفِعُ بِهِ وَ يَطْلُبُ بَرَكَتَهُ قُلْتُ أَ يُكَفَّنُ بِهِ الْمَيِّتُ قَالَ لَا.

from “Abd al-Malik who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who has purchased a certain amount of the covering of al-Ka‘bah of which he has used a certain amount for his needs, and a certain amount is left with him. Can he sell? He (the Imam) said, ‘He can sell whatever he wants or gi

تَنَوَّقُوا فِي الْأَكْفَانِ فَإِنَّكُمْ تُبْعَثُونَ بِهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Try to make your shrouds look beautiful; you will be raised with your shrouds.’”

الْكَتَّانُ كَانَ لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ يُكَفَّنُونَ بِهِ وَ الْقُطْنُ لِأُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص.

‘The Israelites used silk for shroud; and cotton is for the followers of the Holy prophet, Muhammad, O Allah grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause.’”

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’.