How to Perform Ghusl on the Deceased: Step-by-Step Guide

Why Ghusl Matters

Performing ghusl on a deceased Muslim is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah). It is also one of the most intimate acts of mercy a family member or community volunteer can offer — a final physical service to someone who can no longer care for themselves.

For many diaspora families, the prospect of performing ghusl is deeply intimidating. The ritual has precise requirements, and the fear of making a mistake during such a significant moment creates enormous anxiety. The good news: the core procedure is straightforward, and mosque burial committees exist precisely to guide and support families through it.

Who Can Perform Ghusl

Same-gender washers only. A deceased male must be washed by males; a deceased female by females. The washers should be trustworthy, pious, and ideally experienced — mosque burial committees maintain trained volunteer teams.

Exceptions:

• Spouses can wash each other. A wife may wash her deceased husband, and a husband may wash his deceased wife. This is permitted across all four Sunni schools.
• Young children (prepubescent) can be washed by adults of either gender.
• Can a daughter wash her deceased mother? Yes — a daughter is the same gender as her mother, so this is not only permitted but encouraged. It is considered a deeply virtuous act.
• Can a wife wash her deceased husband? Yes — the spousal exception applies. However, some families may prefer male community volunteers to perform the ghusl on a male, which is also perfectly valid.
• Can a son wash his deceased mother? No — cross-gender washing is not permitted except between spouses.

The general rule: if in doubt, the mosque burial committee will coordinate appropriate same-gender washers.

What You Need

Gather these supplies before beginning:

• Washing table with drainage (mosque facilities or funeral homes typically have these; if a home setting is being considered, ask the local mosque or funeral director what setup is permitted)
• Warm water and a clean water source
• Mild soap and shampoo for the hair
• Ground lote leaves (Sidr) or camphor powder (kafoor) for the final wash (available from Islamic supply stores or online)
• Cotton wool or cotton balls for cleaning the nose and mouth
• Disposable gloves (thick for handling, thin for detailed work)
• Protective aprons and face shields if available
• A large, dark, opaque cloth (satar) to cover the private area throughout
• Clean towels for drying
• Scissors for removing hospital bands or medical garments
• The kafan (shroud sheets) laid out on a separate clean, dry surface

The Ghusl Procedure: Step by Step

1. Begin with Bismillah

Say "Bismillah" (In the name of Allah) before touching the body. This marks the transition from a medical or logistical act to a ritual one.

2. Cover the Awrah

Place the opaque covering cloth (satar) over the area from navel to knee. This must remain in place throughout the entire washing. The washers must never look at or directly touch the uncovered private area.

3. Remove Clothing and Jewelry

Use scissors to cut away any hospital gowns, medical bands, or clothing. Remove all jewelry, rings, and body piercings.

4. Express Remaining Waste

Gently raise the upper body to a semi-seated position and stroke the abdomen downward three times to expel any remaining bodily waste. Clean immediately and wash away.

5. Perform Istinja (Cleaning of Private Parts)

Under the covering cloth, wash the private area using gloved hands and running water. This is done without direct visual contact.

6. Perform Wudu (Ablution)

Perform a full wudu for the deceased — washing the hands, rinsing the mouth and nose (using wet cotton wool, not by introducing water directly into the mouth or nostrils), washing the face, washing the arms to the elbows, wiping the head, and washing the feet.

7. Wash the Head and Hair

Shampoo and clean the hair thoroughly. For a female, undo braids and wash the hair completely; afterward, it can be braided into three plaits and laid behind the body.

8. Wash the Right Side

Turn the body onto its left side. Wash the entire right side — from shoulder to foot, both front and back — with warm, soapy water.

9. Wash the Left Side

Turn the body onto its right side. Wash the entire left side in the same manner.

10. Final Purification Wash

Pour water infused with camphor (kafoor) or lote leaves (Sidr) over the body as the final wash.

11. Repeat for an Odd Number

The complete washing cycle must be performed an odd number of times — three is standard, but five or seven washes may be done if needed to ensure the body is thoroughly clean.

12. Dry the Body

Pat the body completely dry with clean towels. Transfer to the shrouding table.

Special Cases

Martyrs who die in battle defending the faith are not washed — they are buried in the clothes they died in.

Stillborn infants and miscarriages have school-specific rulings. Under four months, the fetus is not washed or prayed over and is wrapped in a clean white cloth. Over four months, Hanbali law makes washing and funeral prayer mandatory; Hanafi law makes ghusl mandatory if the child is born alive or fully developed; Shafi'i law applies if gestation exceeds six months or the limbs are fully developed; Maliki law makes washing mandatory only if knowledgeable midwives deem the infant capable of survival.

A body that cannot safely undergo water-based ghusl — due to severe burns, decomposition, or communicable disease — requires a case-specific ruling. Consult the local imam and funeral director about the appropriate purification procedure rather than assuming the ordinary sequence applies.

After Ghusl: Moving to Shrouding

Once the body is dry, camphor is applied to the seven points of prostration — the forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and the soles of both feet. The body is then shrouded (takfeen) in the prepared kafan sheets.

For a complete guide covering ghusl, shrouding, Janazah prayer, burial, and every other ritual from death to interment — with supply lists, printable checklists, and school-by-school guidance — the Muslim (Sunni) Funeral Guide provides everything families need in one consolidated resource.