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

The Shaykh (Al-Mufid), narrated to me from Abu Al-Qasim Ja’far bin Muhammad, from Muhammad bin Ya’qub, from a group of our companions, from Sahl bin Ziyad, from more than one of our companions: We said to Imam Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: "May Allah سبحانه وتعالى make us your ransom! What if we are unable to find fresh palm branches (jareedah)?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Use a branch from the sidr tree." I said: "What if we cannot find a branch from the sidr tree?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Then use a branch from the khalaf tree."