Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah

Should we give Ghusl to an Ebola patient?

· 22 Muharram 1436 AH1 min readFatwa 31257English

Question

It's not possible, extremely dangerous to make ghusal on an ebola patient. The persons making the ghusal r likely to get ghusal. Can ghusal be dispensed? Can the body be cremated because even touching is extremely dangerous?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

In principle, it is impermissible to adopt the method of cremation in order to dispose a deceased even if the deceased was a victim of a contagious disease.[1]

While we understand the risks and dangers in washing the body of a deceased infected with Ebola, the danger of contracting the disease can be avoided with the appropriate protective equipment. Such precautions are being strictly abided by anyone who may deal with an Ebola patient.[2]

However, if physically touching the body is not feasible, then you may pour water over the body using a water jug. If this is not feasible either, then you may perform tayammum of the deceased using gloves or any other protective equipment.[3]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Fahad Abdul Wahab

Student Darul Iftaa
USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

www.Daruliftaa.net

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

[1] كفاية المفتي ج٤ ص٦٣ دار الاشاعت

فتاوى دار العلوم ديوبند ج٣ ص١٤٠ / ج٥ ص٢٧٤ دار الاشاعت

حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُغِيرَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِزَامِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَمْزَةَ الْأَسْلَمِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ [ص:55] رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَمَّرَهُ عَلَى سَرِيَّةٍ قَالَ: فَخَرَجْتُ فِيهَا، وَقَالَ: «إِنْ وَجَدْتُمْ فُلَانًا فَأَحْرِقُوهُ بِالنَّارِ». فَوَلَّيْتُ فَنَادَانِي فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ: «إِنْ وَجَدْتُمْ فُلَانًا فَاقْتُلُوهُ وَلَا تُحْرِقُوهُ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُعَذِّبُ بِالنَّارِ إِلَّا رَبُّ النَّارِ

[ابو داود رقم المحديث ٢٦٧٣ المكتبة العصرية، صيدا – بيروت]

[2] http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/guidance-safe-handling-human-remains-ebola-patients-us-hospitals-mortuaries.html

[3]

فتاوى محمودية ج١٣ ص٢٠٣ مكتبة محمودية

وفي الفتاوي العتابية: وَلَوْ كان الْمَيِّتُ مُتَفَسِّخًا يَتَعَذَّرُ مَسْحُهُ كَفَى صَبُّ الْمَاءِ عليه

(الفتاوي التاتارخانية، ج ٢، ص ١٠، مكتبة زكريا)

وإذا مَاتَ الرَّجُلُ في السَّفَرِ وَلَيْسَ هُنَاكَ مَاءٌ طَاهِرٌ يُيَمَّمُ وَيُصَلَّى عليه هَكَذَا في الْمُحِيطِ رَجُلٌ مَاتَ ولم يَجِدُوا مَاءً فَيَمَّمُوهُ وَصَلَّوْا عليه ثُمَّ وَجَدُوا مَاءً غُسِّلَ وَصُلِّيَ عليه ثَانِيًا في قَوْلِ أبي يُوسُفَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى كَذَا في فَتَاوَى قَاضِي خَانْ

(الفتاوي الهندية، ج ١، ص ١٦٠، مكتبة رشيدية)

ومثله في التاتارخانية ج ٢ ص ١٦، مكتبة زكريا

Answered by
Fahad Abdul Wahab
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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Source: Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah — https://askimam.org/public/question_detail/31257
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/askimam-31257

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