Chapter on Touching the Deceased
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 25
وَ سَأَلَهُ اَلْمُفَضَّلُ بْنُ عُمَرَ: فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا تَقُولُ فِي اَلْمَرْأَةِ تَكُونُ فِي اَلسَّفَرِ مَعَ اَلرِّجَالِ لَيْسَ فِيهِمْ لَهَا ذُو مَحْرَمٍ وَ لاَ مَعَهُمُ اِمْرَأَةٌ فَتَمُوتُ اَلْمَرْأَةُ مَا يُصْنَعُ بِهَا قَالَ «يُغْسَلُ مِنْهَا مَا أَوْجَبَ اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمُ اَلتَّيَمُّمَ وَ لاَ تُمَسُّ وَ لاَ يُكْشَفُ لَهَا شَيْءٌ مِنْ مَحَاسِنِهَا اَلَّتِي أَمَرَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِسَتْرِهَا» فَقَالَ لَهُ كَيْفَ يُصْنَعُ بِهَا قَالَ «يُغْسَلُ بَاطِنُ كَفَّيْهَا ثُمَّ يُغْسَلُ وَجْهُهَا ثُمَّ يُغْسَلُ ظَهْرُ كَفَّيْهَا.
Al-Mufaddal ibn Umar asked Imam Al-Sadiq عليه السلام: "May I be your ransom, what is your ruling about a woman who dies while traveling with men, none of whom are her mahram (close relatives), and no women are present? What should be done with her?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "Only those parts that Allah سبحانه وتعالى has required for tayammum (dry ablution) should be washed, and She should not be touched or any of her private features, which Allah سبحانه وتعالى has commanded to be covered, uncovered." He then asked: "How should it be done?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "Her inner palms should be washed first, then her face, followed by washing the backs of her hands”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh