Chapter on Instructing the Dying (Talqin al-Muhtadarin)

Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr, from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Salim, from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar, who said: I asked Abu ‘Abdillah عليه السلام: "May I be your ransom! What is your ruling regarding a woman who is traveling with men, among whom there is no mahram (close male relative) for her, nor is there any other woman with them, and she dies? What should be done with her?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "Only those parts of her body that are required for tayammum (dry ablution) should be washed. Nothing of her beauty, which Allah سبحانه وتعالى has commanded to be concealed, should be touched or uncovered." I then asked: "How should it be done?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "Her palms should be washed - first the inside, then the face, and finally the back of her hands."