Hunut (Rubbing Camphor) on a Dead Body and Shrouding

“About Hunut and shrouding a deceased, he (the Imam) has said, ‘Spread al-Hibrah (the large sheet of fabric), then spread the loincloth over which you then spread the shirt. Then turn back upward the front side of the shirt. Then find the ground camphor, place a certain amount of it over his forehead on the place for sajdah and then rub camphor over all of his joints from his head down to his toes, on his head, neck, shoulders, and elbows and on all of joints of his hands and legs and on the middle of his palms. Then pick him up and place him on the shirt, then turn the front of the shirt over his front side. The shirt must not have any collar or buttons. Two fresh al-Jaridah (twigs of palm tree), one yard in length are placed with him. One is placed between his knees parallel with his leg and one-half of it parallel with his thigh and the other one under his right armpit. No cotton or camphor is placed in his nostril, eyes, and ears or on his forehead. Then a turban is made for him. The center of the turban is placed on his head and then turned around his head, then the remaining is thrown on his shoulders in opposite sides by throwing the right to the left and the left to the right. Then the remaining is pulled over his chest.”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the shroud of the Messenger of Allah. He (the Imam) said, ‘There were three pieces of fabric to shroud him. They were two pieces of Suhariyayn fabric and one piece of large sheet made in Hibarah.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you shroud a deceased, scatter fragrant powder and camphor on every piece of the shroud.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When applying camphor on a deceased person, apply it on the seven parts of the body which are placed on the ground during Sujud (prostrations), and all of the joints of the body, his head, beard and on his chest.’ He (the Imam) said that hunut of man and woman is the same.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘I dislike following a dead body with burning incense.’”

“Once we asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), if turban is part of shroud for a deceased. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not part of it. The obligatory shroud consist of three pieces of cloths, one over all; the minimum of which must be large enough to cover the whole body and any extra is of the Sunnah up to five pieces and more than this is contrived.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The Holy prophet commanded to prepare turban and it was prepared for the Holy prophet.’ The truthful shaykh (a.s.), sent for us one dinar, when we were in al-Madinah at the time of the death of abu ‘Ubaydah al-Hadhdha’. He (the Imam) commanded us to buy for him hunut and turban which we did.”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A deceased must be shrouded with three pieces of cloth besides turban, and one piece which is wrapped around the hips, so that nothing is exposed. The piece of cloth and turban are necessary but they are not part of shroud.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘My father (a.s.), wrote in his will to me to shroud him with three pieces of cloth, one was a gown made in Hibarah with which he performed Salah (prayer) on Fridays and another piece of cloth, and a shirt. I asked my father (a.s.), “Why do you write these things?” He (the Imam) replied, “I am afraid people will overpower you. If they said to use four or five pieces, do not do so. Prepare a turban for me but turban is not counted as part of shroud. It is prepared to wrap the body therewith.’””

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that I give Ghusl (bath) to the deceased. He (the Imam) said, ‘Treat it very gently, do not pinch his body, do not touch his ears with camphor and when preparing turban for him, do not wrap it like the turban of an Arab.’ I then asked, ‘How must I do it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Hold it from its center and spread it on his head turn it to the back of the head and allow the rest to hang down his chest.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about how shroud is prepared. He (the Imam) said, ‘Take one piece of cloth to wrap around his hips and legs.’ I asked about loincloth. He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not count for anything. It is only to hold that area so that nothing is exposed. The cotton that is use is better than this. The shirt is torn and is taken out from the side of his legs when Ghusl (bath) is given.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Part of shroud is the shirt without buttons and borders, and a turban that is wrapped around his head and the extra is allowed to hang down to his legs.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the turban for a deceased. He (the Imam) said, ‘Wrap it around his head.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Five pieces of cloth are used to shroud a deceased: a shirt without button, a loincloth, a piece to wrap therewith his midsection, an overall sheet to wrap him in it, a turban that is wrapped around his head and the extra is allowed to hang down his chest.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Camphor is for hunut.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me about the shroud of abu ‘Ubaydah al-Hadhdha’, ‘Camphor is for hunut; however, go and do what people do.’”

“Abu ‘Ubaydah al-Hadhdha’ died and I was in al-Madinah. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), sent a dinar and said, ‘Buy with it hunut and take notice that hunut is camphor; however, do as people do.’ When I went, he (the Imam) sent a dinar and said, ‘Buy camphor with it.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about hunut for a deceased. He (the Imam) said, ‘Apply it on the parts of his body used during prostration.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Holy prophet prohibited placing of hunut on a coffin.’”