THE CHAPTER OF CORPSES · 32 – WHEN THE CORPSE IS WASHED, IT IS COVERED
Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) related:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, “Do not expose your thigh, and do not look at the thigh of any living or dead person.” [65]
EXPLANATION
Calves are among the private parts to which looking is forbidden.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated:
The Companions of the Prophet intended to wash the body of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). They began to say, "By Allah! Should we strip the Messenger of Allah as we do with other deceased people, or should we wash him while he is in his garments?" They disagreed about it. Then Allah brought sleep upon them, and none remained among them who did not sleep except one whose chin had fallen from his chest (who remained awake). Afterwards, a speaker whom they did not recognize spoke to them from a corner of the house, saying: "Wash the Messenger of Allah while he is in his garments." They got up and washed him with water poured over his garment, and they were wiping him with the garment instead of their hands. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “Then I remembered something that had not occurred to me before.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) should only have been washed by his wives.