Question:
1) What is the satr of the female mayyit that need to be covered while giving ghusl?
2) Please tell me the steps in sequence of those responsible for the funeral expenses in the case where the mayyit cannot afford it?
3) In the presence of the mayyit’s father who is a normal layman, can the grandson or brother of the mayyit who is a Mufti deserve more the right to pray the janazah salaah than the imam of the locality who is not so qualify?
4) How does the body become najis after death, which makes the ghusl farz?
5) Is the same three things farz in the ghusl of the mayyit, wet the mouth, nose and rinse the whole body once? After death when the body is already najis, then the three farz in ghusl should always applied, then why in the books of fiqh it is mention that if the person died in the condition of janabat then only the three things are farz otherwise just wash the whole body?
Bayyinu Tujaru
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
1) From the navel to below the knees. This is because a woman’s satr in front of another woman is from her navel to below her knees.
وفي الشرنبلالية: وهذا شامل للمرأة والرجل؛ لأن عورة المرأة للمرأة كالرجل للرجل ( شامي: 3/ 101 ، باب صلاة الجنازة ط دار المعرفة )
2) If the deceased did not leave behind sufficient wealth to pay for his funeral expenses, then the detail of who will be responsible to pay for his funeral expenses is as follows:
- Firstly, the blood relatives of the deceased are responsible to pay for his funeral expenses.
- If the blood relatives cannot do so, then it should be paid from the baitul maal (state treasury).
- In the absence of the baitul maal, it is compulsory (fard kifaaya) on the general Muslims to pay for the funeral expenses.
- If the Muslims cannot afford it, they must seek help from the others.
As for the question: exactly which blood relatives are responsible to pay for the funeral expenses and in which proportion must each one of them pay? The answer to this is that it will differ from case to case. It will depend on which blood relatives are alive and who among them are themselves poor. As a general rule, however, if the deceased left behind children who are not poor, then the children (both males and females) will be responsible to pay for the funeral expenses in equal proportions. (See: Ahsanul Fatawa: 5/470)
Note: In the case of a deceased woman, if she left behind a husband, then the husband will be responsible to pay for her funeral expenses regardless of whether or not she left behind any wealth. (Hindiya: 1/177, Ilmiya; Shami)
3) If the imam of the locality knows the ahkaam of salat, can offer the salatul janazah properly and outwardly abstains from sins, then he will have the most right to lead salatul janazah. Otherwise, the father of the deceased will have the right to lead salatul janazah, provided that he can properly offer it. If he cannot properly offer it, then the grandson will have the right, followed by the brother.
4) All creatures that have flowing blood in them, when they die, they become najis. Humans also have flowing blood in them. Therefore, when humans die, they become najis. (Shami: 3/98, Ma’rifa)
5) When giving ghusl to the deceased, it is compulsory to wash the entire body. However, it is not compulsory to rinse the mouth and nose. This is because once water is put in the mouth and nose of the deceased, it is impossible or difficult to expel it. Yes, it is preferable to wipe the teeth and nostrils with a wet cloth.
The above applies to all deceased people, regardless of whether they died in the state of purity, janabah or menstruation. (Ahsanul Fatawa: 4/247; Tahtawi: pg. 568; Shami: 3/102, Ma’rifa)
There are some other views regarding this that have been mentioned in some Fiqh books. However, the correct view is what we mentioned.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Mufti Faizal Riza
10/4/2013
Darul Ifta Australia
www.fatwa.org.au
