Janazah: Washing, Shrouding and Burial Rites in Islam

The passing of a Muslim activates a set of obligations upon the wider community. Islam honours the deceased body: it is washed to remove impurity, wrapped in clean white cloth, carried to the Janazah prayer, and returned to the earth on its right side facing the Qibla. These rites fall under fard kifayah — a collective duty. If a sufficient number from the community fulfil them, the obligation is lifted from everyone else. This guide covers the three core duties: the washing (ghusl al-mayyit), the shrouding (kafan) and the burial.

Who Performs the Rites?

The washing and shrouding are carried out by people of the same gender as the deceased. A spouse may wash their partner. Children who have not yet reached puberty may be washed by either gender. Whoever performs the washing should be a trustworthy person who will guard what they observe, in the prophetic spirit of honouring the deceased. It is recommended that those involved have knowledge of the correct method so the rites are performed with care and accuracy.

Ghusl al-Mayyit: Washing the Deceased

When the Prophet's ﷺ daughter Zaynab passed away, he instructed the women: 'Wash her three times, or five, or more if you see fit — with water and sidr (lote leaves) — and in the final wash add camphor or something of camphor.' (Bukhari and Muslim, narrated by Umm Atiyyah) This narration is the foundation of how ghusl al-mayyit is performed.

1. Ensure privacy. Screen the body; only those involved in the washing should be present.
2. Remove any impurity from the body, then clean the private areas.
3. Perform wudu on the deceased: wash the face, hands to the elbows, wipe the head and wash the feet.
4. Wash the right side first, then the left, as with the living body.
5. Wash an odd number of times — at minimum three — using water mixed with sidr (lote leaves or an equivalent cleanser) for most washes.
6. In the final wash, add a small amount of camphor (kafur) to the water to perfume and help preserve the body.
7. For women, the hair is loosened, washed, and then rebraided into three plaits placed behind the head.
8. If water is entirely unavailable, tayammum (dry purification) is performed in its place.

The Kafan: Shrouding the Deceased

Aisha (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ was shrouded in three white cotton cloths from Sahul — no shirt, no turban, simply three plain white sheets. (Bukhari and Muslim) For a man, three white sheets are the sunnah. For a woman, scholars of the major schools mention five pieces: a lower wrap, a chemise (shirt), a head-cover and two outer sheets, though the details vary slightly by school of thought. The unifying principle is plain, clean, white fabric that honours the deceased with simplicity.

• Use plain white fabric. Avoid silk for men.
• Each cloth must be large enough to wrap the full body with overlapping ends at head and feet.
• Lightly scent the shroud with permissible incense.
• Tie the shroud loosely at the head and feet; these ties are undone once the body is placed in the grave.

The Burial

The Prophet ﷺ commanded: 'Hasten with the funeral.' (Bukhari) Delay is disliked except for genuine necessity. The deceased is placed in the grave on their right side, facing the Qibla. The preferred grave type is the lahd — a niche carved into the qibla-side wall of the grave — which holds the body without requiring wooden planks directly above it. As the body is lowered, those doing so say:

Those present may each throw three handfuls of soil into the grave. The mound is left slightly raised above ground level — not levelled flush, and not built up higher than a hand-span. After the burial, the Prophet ﷺ used to stand at the graveside and say: 'Seek forgiveness for your brother and ask for steadfastness for him, for he is now being questioned.' (Abu Dawud) Making dua for the deceased at the graveside is a beautiful and sunnah act of love.

Common Questions

After the burial, continue to support the deceased with dua and ongoing charity on their behalf. See our guide to the three deeds that continue after death. To learn how to pray the Janazah prayer itself, read the full guide to Salat al-Janazah: how to pray the funeral prayer.