Chapter on Instructing the Dying (Talqin al-Muhtadarin)

Narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Ali ibn Al-Hakam, from Aban ibn Uthman, from Al-Harith ibn Ya'la ibn Murrah, from his father, from his grandfather: The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, passed away and was covered with a cloth. Behind the cloth, (Imam) Ali عليه السلام, was at the edge of the cloth, resting his cheeks upon his hands, while the wind blew the edge of the cloth over (Imam) Ali’s face. The people were at the door and in the mosque, wailing and weeping. Suddenly, we heard a voice inside the house saying: "Your Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم is pure and purified, so bury Him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and do not wash him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم." (Imam) Ali عليه السلام, lifted his head in alarm and said: "Be silent! O enemy of Allah سبحانه وتعالى! He (the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) has commanded me to wash him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, shroud him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, and bury him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, and that is the Sunnah." Then another caller, in a different voice, announced: "O Ali ibn Abi Talib, cover the private parts of your Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and do not remove His صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم shirt."