Ruling On Taking Payment For Bathing A Deceased Person

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

   What do the scholars of Islam say about this issue: Is it permitted to take payment for bathing a deceased person?

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

   The preferred and superior practice is to wash the deceased without taking any payment. Regarding taking payment, there are two scenarios:

   1. If someone else is available and capable of washing the deceased, then it is permissible to take payment.

   2. If no one else is available except the one who is capable of washing the deceased, then taking payment is not permissible. In this case, since it is wajib (obligatory) for that person to perform the ghusl, taking payment for an obligatory act is not allowed.

   In Tanwīr al-Abṣār wa Durr al-Mukhtār:[1]

(‌والأفضل ‌أن ‌يغسل) ‌الميت (مجانا، فإن ابتغى الغاسل الأجر جاز إن كان ثمة غيره وإلا لا) لتعينه عليه

   In Radd al-Muḥtār:^[2]

قوله :( لتعينه عليه) أي لأنه صار واجبا عليه عينا، ولا يجوز أخذ الأجرة على الطاعة كالمعصية

In Waqār al-Fatāwā:

   There are two scenarios regarding taking payment for washing the deceased. If there are other people available who can perform the ghusl, then taking payment is permissible. But if there is no one else available to perform the ghusl, then it becomes obligatory for that person to wash the deceased, and taking payment for an obligatory act is forbidden.^[3]

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Answered By: Muhammad Sarfraz Akhtar Attari

Verified by:Mufti Fudayl Raza Attari

Ref No: Mul-594

Date: 19th Jumada al-Ukhra 1444 AH/12th January 2023