Is an A/V Plug Allowed to Be Used for a Deceased Muslim Body at the Mortuaries?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Is an A/V plug allowed or ok to be used for a deceased Muslim body at the mortuaries? When I participated in the ghusl of my grandma, I was told by the other Muslim ladies that it would help not to let the coffin get dirty. It was my first time participating in giving the ghusl to any deceased person, so I was following the guidance of other Muslim ladies who had more experience than me. I didn’t feel comfortable about the A/V plug, so I wanted to ask that question.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
The procedure of bathing the deceased is mentioned in quite a detail in the books of fiqh, also shrouding the deceased with three and five shrouds for men and women, respectively. However, there is no mention of blocking the orifices of the deceased with any cloth, item, etc., from fluid exiting. Generally, the books of fiqh mention when a deceased is bathed, it is made to sit up, and its abdomen is gently wiped to remove any of its contents. It is wiped three times, or even more, and washed if any fluid content is exiting.
However, if one uses an A/V plug to keep any fluids from leaking out of the body, then there is no harm; if one can use them properly and with keeping the sanctity and respect of the body, using disposable gloves without looking at the private area (satr) ensuring it is not touched with bare hands. [Bolwi, Ahkam al-Jana’iz; Tahtawi, Hashiya ‘ala Maraqi al-Falah]
Linked Answer
The Bathing, Funeral Prayer and Burial of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) – SeekersGuidance
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I pray this helps with your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.
He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.
He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.
He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.
