Ghusl & Kafan | Al Rawda

Ritual washing of the deceased (Ghusl)

Ritual washing is a central part of an Islamic funeral and is carried out with dignity, discretion and respect for the deceased.

Experience and reliability

The washing should be carried out by suitable, experienced and trustworthy persons while protecting the dignity and privacy of the deceased.

Professional care in special circumstances

Following an autopsy or in cases of particular physical changes, we are prepared for more demanding care situations. Dignity, professional handling and preparation for the Islamic ritual washing remain central.

Relatives during the ritual washing: Relatives who wish to be present or, where possible, participate are sensitively prepared and professionally guided.

Ghusl and Kafan

After washing, the deceased is wrapped in the Kafan. Al Rawda organises and accompanies this care professionally in the designated facilities.

Women and men

Appropriate gender-specific care and the relevant religious requirements are respected.

This page provides a general overview. For detailed religious questions, an appropriately qualified religious adviser may also be consulted.

Additional information: How is the deceased washed?

Washing the deceased is Fard al-Kifayah

Washing the deceased and performing the funeral prayer are considered Fard al-Kifayah: if a sufficient number of Muslims fulfil this communal obligation, the remaining members of the community are relieved of it.

The washing should be carried out by people who are experienced, trustworthy and upright, while protecting the dignity and privacy of the deceased.

General procedure of the ritual washing

The deceased is prepared respectfully while the private area remains covered. The private area is cleaned using a cloth.
The body may be raised carefully so that any remaining discharge can be removed. The private area is then cleaned again.
The washing then follows the sequence of wudu: the mouth and nose are cleaned carefully, followed by the face, arms, head, ears and feet.
The entire body is then washed, beginning with the right side and then the left.
Where available, sidr (lote-tree leaves) may be added to the water. For the final washing, camphor or some of it is used according to the reported Sunnah, where available and appropriate.
The washing is normally performed three times. If further cleaning is required, it may be repeated five or seven times, or as necessary.

Regarding the washing of Zaynab (radiAllahu anha), the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ, it is reported that he instructed that she be washed three times, five times, or more if necessary, with water and sidr, and that camphor or some of it be used in the final washing.
Sahih al-Bukhari

Who may perform the washing?

As a general rule, men are washed by men and women by women. Spouses may wash one another. Different rulings may apply to young children depending on age. For detailed religious questions, a trusted and knowledgeable Islamic scholar or adviser should be consulted.

How many people are required?

One person may perform the washing, while another may assist. What matters most is experience, trustworthiness, discretion and dignified treatment of the deceased.

Religious source / further reading

Based on a fatwa of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Legal Rulings and an answer attributed to Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAziz ibn Baz (rahimahullah).

Open source on islamfatwa.net →

Kafan – the Islamic shroud

How many pieces are used for men and women?

According to the reported Sunnah, it is preferable for a man to be shrouded in three white cloths. If a man is wrapped in a single cloth that fully covers the body, this is sufficient. It is also generally permissible to use a qamis, an izar and an outer cloth.

For a woman, the cited scholarly view considers five pieces preferable: an izar, qamis, khimar and two outer cloths. If fewer cloths are used while the body remains fully covered, this is also permissible.

Simple, covering and dignified

The essential point is that the body is completely and respectfully covered. The cited ruling describes three cloths without a qamis or turban as preferable for men, while five pieces are mentioned for women. At the same time, the matter allows flexibility where full coverage is achieved with fewer pieces.

How many knots are tied in the Kafan?

There is no fixed prescribed number of knots. According to the cited answer, three knots may be used – at the head, the middle and the feet. Two may also be sufficient. What matters is that the shroud is secured so that it does not come undone.