Question # 322: Is it permissible for a woman on her menses to perform ghusl on a person who has passed away? Jazak Allah khair

Bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: It is permissible for a menstruating woman to wash the dead as there is no evidence in the Qur’an or the Sunnah that prevents it. However, some scholars like Al-Hassan Al-Basri are of the view that it is disliked for a menstruating woman to do so.

Long Answer: It is permissible for a menstruating woman to wash the dead and there is no evidence in the Qur’an or the Sunnah that prevents it. Besides, we do not know of any scholar who issued a fatwa stating that the person washing the dead must be in a state of ritual purity or in a state of ablution. Indeed, the matter of menses is not in a woman’s hands so that we can say that it is forbidden for her to do so.  Nonetheless, some scholars of the Salaf (righteous predecessors), like Al-Hassan Al-Basri, Ibn Seereen and some jurists are of the view that it is disliked for a menstruating woman to wash the dead and said that it is desirable for her to avoid washing the dead. (Islamweb.net, a web site belonging to the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in the State of Qatar)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam