Bathing the mayyit with hot water
Question
I read in an online fatwa that "In Faatawa Shaamiyah, it is stated that when bathing the mayyit, water should not be too hot as the mayyit also feels pain and is harmed just as the living."
Since this indicates that the mayyit is sensitive for temperatures, does it mean that he may also be harmed when his body is placed in the Mortuary Fridges, where the temperature is cold? Does his feeling end after burial, or will he also feel the cold earth, the insects physically biting him etc?
Answer
Water being hot etc. is not because of the mayyit being able to perceive, rather it is out of respect for him; treating him like how you will treat a living person.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
- Answered by
- Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Mufti Online — Madrasah Ta'leemuddeen. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, ask the issuing Darul Ifta directly.