Ghusl (Muslim Burials)

Ġhusl, a ritualistic body cleansing, is prescribed before burial for Islamic funeral ceremonies.¹ While no Muslim ritual or practice is universal, the disagreement over this practice is relatively small and ġhusl is a widely practiced funeral ritual in Muslim societies worldwide. The cleansing done by someone who is closely familiar with the dead and is of the same sex. Ġhusl is done with water, but soil or sand can be substituted if water is not available.²

In accordance with the quoted hadith above, ġhusl is typically performed on the body using both aromatic and non-aromtic water. The ġhusl process is repeated three times, each type of water being used once. First the neck and the head is washed followed by the right side of the body and then the left. While the body is being washed it is recommended that the body be positioned in the direction of Mecca if possible. One of the main objective of the ġhusl is to cleanse the body. Once the body is cleansed, it shrouded with a white cloth that is also sprayed with aromatic camphor water.³

The individuals conducting the ġhusl should wear protective gear so they do not come into contact with the water or flesh of the dead. Bodies of the deceased are viewed to be in an unclean state so it is preferred that those doing the cleansing do not come into direct contact with the flesh of the dead. Furthermore, those doing the cleansing are required to make conscious declarations of the steps they are taking to cleanse the body. In addition, the individuals that participate in performing the ġhusl are prohibited from speaking about traits of the deceased's body to others.⁴