Chapter on Touching the Deceased
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 25
وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَبَّادٍ اَلْمَكِّيِّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سُفْيَانَ اَلثَّوْرِيَّ: يَسْأَلُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنِ اَلتَّخْضِيرِ فَقَالَ «إِنَّ رَجُلاً مِنَ اَلْأَنْصَارِ هَلَكَ فَأُوذِنَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بِمَوْتِهِ فَقَالَ لِمَنْ يَلِيهِ مِنْ قَرَابَتِهِ «خَضِّرُوا صَاحِبَكُمْ مَا أَقَلَّ اَلْمُخَضَّرِينَ يَوْمَ اَلْقِيَامَةِ » قَالَ وَ مَا اَلتَّخْضِيرُ فَقَالَ «جَرِيدَةٌ خَضْرَاءُ تُوضَعُ مِنْ أَصْلِ اَلْيَدَيْنِ إِلَى أَصْلِ اَلتَّرْقُوَةِ ».
It was narrated from Yahya ibn 'Abbad al-Makki that He said: "I heard Sufyan al-Thawri asking Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام about 'al-takhdir' (placing green branches). Imam عليه السلام replied: 'A man from the Ansar died, and the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم was informed of his death. He said to those from the man's relatives who were responsible for him, "Place greenery (al-takhdir) on your companion. How few are those who will be adorned with greenery on the Day of Resurrection."' Sufyan asked: 'What is al-takhdir?' Imam عليه السلام said: "A green palm branch that is placed from the base of the hands to the base of the collarbone."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh