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), may Allah سبحانه وتعالى support him, narrated to me from Abu al-Qasim Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, from Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub, from ‘Ali ibn Ibrahim, from his father, from his companions, from Yunus, from them عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام said regarding the embalming (Tahnit) and shrouding (Takfin) of the deceased. Imam عليه السلام said: "Spread out the outer shroud (Hibarah) fully, then spread the lower garment (Izar) over it, and then spread the shirt (Qamis) on top of it. Fold the front of the shirt over the deceased. Then take powdered camphor and place it on his forehead and the places of his prostration. Wipe camphor over the joints of his body, including the hands and feet, and the center of his palms. Next, he should be carried and placed over his shirt, and the front of the shirt should be folded over him, leaving it unsewn and unbuttoned. Prepare two fresh palm branches (Jareed) about an arm’s length each. Place one between his knees, with half extending toward the shin and half toward the thigh. Place the other branch under his right armpit. Do not place cotton or camphor in his nostrils, eyes, ears, or face. Then wrap his head with a turban (Imamah). Take the middle of the turban and fold it around his head in a circular manner. Then let the right end hang over the left side, and the left end hang over the right side, and extend it over his chest."