Perform Tayammum for the deceased if there is fear that washing may tear him

16-6-2013 | IslamWeb

Question:

My father has been bedridden for months so his body has many open blisters and his flesh is worn out. If he dies, should I wash him in spite of these many holes in his body?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

 

If your father dies, wash him if it is possible. Otherwise, pour water over him. If you fear that the water may tear him, perform Tayammum for him.

In his book Al-Mughni, Ibn Qudaamah said: “Regarding the one over whom a building fell, the burned one and the drowned; if it is possible to wash him, then he should be washed. Otherwise, if there is fear that washing may cause harm to him, he must not be washed and they have to perform Tayammum for him if it is possible. If it is difficult to wash him due to the lack of water, they have to perform Tayammum for him. If it is not possible to wash all his body, they are to wash what they are able to and then perform Tayammum for the other parts just like the living individual”.

Allaah Knows best.