Chapter on Guiding the Dying, Positioning Them at Death, Procedures for Their Final Moments, Washing Them, and Placing Them in Shrouds

This narration aligns with view of general public, but we do not act upon it because we have already explained that a martyr, if he does not die in the battlefield, must be washed whether his body changes or not. This should be the ruling, Allah سبحانه وتعالى willing. The Shaykh (Al-Mufid), may Allah سبحانه وتعالى support him, said: "As for those who die from smallpox, burns, or similar conditions where their skin, limbs, or flesh are affected and touching them during washing could cause the removal of some of their flesh or hair, they should not be touched by hand. Instead, water should be poured over them. If there is fear that pouring water might dislodge parts of their skin or hair, then water should not be used at all, and they should be given tayammum (dry purification) using earth, similar to how a living person unable to use water due to illness performs tayammum when in need of purification from major impurity. Their face should be wiped from the hairline to the tip of the nose, and the outer part of both hands should be wiped."