Washing of the dead
The clothing of the dead is removed. The genitals are to be covered.
The
body will be abluted (like ablution before regular prayer, except that the arms will not be washed and the mouth and nose
will not be rinsed with water). The head will be washed with water and soap (it is not sufficient to wipe the head as in the
regular ablution).
Water will be poured over the body three times. The first time, the body will be placed on the left
side to allow water to be poured on the right side. The second time is the contrary. Then the body will be placed in a sitting
position leaning on the breast of the washer, and the abdomen will be gently wiped. The last time, the whole body will be
washed with water and a detergent-like soap.
A man washes a man, and a woman washes a woman. A woman may wash her husband,
and a man or woman may wash young boys and girls.
Shrouding
The man is to be shrouded in three layers. The first sheet
extends from the neck to above the feet. The second extends fromt he head to the feet. The third is a larger cover than the
latter -- it exceeds the head and feet, and will be tied above the head and below the feet.
The woman is to be shrouded
in five layers. The first is something like a shirt or chemise in a very simple form. The second is a short veil to be put
on the head and face loosely. The third is a sheet of cloth to be enclosed from the head to the feet. The fourth is a sheet
of cloth to be fastened around the abdomen and breast. The fifth is a large cover to hide the entire body.
In the case
of a young girl, it is sufficient to use the first and last only.
The Prayer
The Imam, who is anyone from among the
Muslim community, will place the dead before him in the direction of "Qibla" (the direction of Mecca). He will stand, with
the other Muslims present standing behind him doing as he does. The Imam is preferable to be a leader in the Muslim community
or a relative of the dead.
The Imam and the followers must declare an intention privately before they begin the prayers
for the dead.
The Imam will make Takbirah (that is to say: Allahu Akbar), and he will read Al-Fatiha (the opening
chapter of the Holy Quran).
He will then make the second Takbirah and will recite the second part of At-Tashahhood (from: Allahumma
salli 'ala Sayyidina Mohammad, to: Innaka Hamidun Majid).
He will make the third Takbirah and ask the Lord's mercy for the dead and for all Muslims by any words
he likes, or preferably by saying as the tradition of the Prophet says: "Alla-humma-ghfer li-hayyina wa-mayyitina wa-saghirina
wa-kabirina wa-dhakarina wa-onthana wa-shahidina wa-ghaibina. Allahumma man ahyaytahu menna fa-ahyihi 'ala-l-Islam. Wa-man
tawaffaytahu menna fatawaffahu 'ala-l-Iman. Allahomma la tabrimna ajrah wala taftinna ba'adah".
This means: "O Lord, have mercy on the whole of us, our survivors and our dead, our young and our adult,
our male and our female, our present and our absent. O Lord, those whom You cause to survive, keep them on Islam, and those
whom You cause to die, make them die on the true faith. O Lord, do not prevent us from the reward we deserve, because of our
patience on the loss, and do not let us be misguided after him".
The Imam will make the fourth Takbirah and will say: "Allahumma la tabrimna ajrah wala taftinna ba'adah,
waghfir lana walah." This means: "O Lord, do not prevent us from the reward we deserve, and do not let us be misguided, after
him, and have mercy on us and on him."
The Imam will direct his face to the right, saying in a loud voice: "Assalamu Alaykom."
Then, on the left side, saying: "Assalamu Alaykom."
Remark: All of these recitations except the four Takbirahs and the Greeting, must be said privately,
not in a raised voice.
