Chapter on Touching the Deceased
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 25
وَ سُئِلَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنْ عِلَّةِ اَلْجَرِيدَةِ فَقَالَ «إِنَّهُ يَتَجَافَى عَنْهُ اَلْعَذَابُ مَا دَامَتْ رَطْبَةً.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام was asked about the reason for placing the palm branch (jareedah), Imam عليه السلام replied: "Indeed, the punishment is averted from them (the deceased) as long as it remains fresh."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh