Chapter on Instructing the Dying (Talqin al-Muhtadarin)

Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi Nasr, from Abdur-Rahman ibn Salim, from Mufaddal ibn Umar: I said to Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: "May I be your ransom, who washed (Sayyida) Fatimah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم ?" Imam عليه السلام said: "It was Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام (who washed her)." I (the Narrator) reacted as if I found this statement surprising, so Imam عليه السلام said: "It seems you are uncomfortable with what I have told you." I asked: "Was that really the case? May I be your ransom?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Do not feel uneasy, for She صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم was a Siddiqah (truthful one), and only a Siddiq (truthful one) could have washed her. Do you not know that Maryam صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, peace be upon her, was only washed by Isa عليه السلام?" I asked: "May I be your ransom, what do you say about a woman who is in a journey with men, none of whom is her Mahram, and there is no woman with them, and she dies - what should be done with her?" Imam عليه السلام said: "The parts of her body that Allah سبحانه وتعالى has required to be purified through Tayammum should be washed. She should not be touched, nor should any part of her body that Allah سبحانه وتعالى commanded to be covered be uncovered." I asked: "How should this be done?" Imam عليه السلام said: "The palms of her hands and her face should be washed."