Shrouding the Body

This is a very important part of the Islamic funeral rites. The shrouding process, known as Kafan (or Kaffan), is the final step before the funeral prayer and burial. Its purpose is to prepare the deceased for their return to our creator in a manner of great simplicity, dignity, and ritual purity.

Here are the key details of the Kafan process:

Materials and Philosophy

• Material: The shroud must be made of plain, white, inexpensive cloth, usually cotton.
  • Simplicity: Extravagance is discouraged, reflecting the belief that the body leaves this world without material possessions, bringing only its deeds.
  • White: The colour white symbolizes purity, cleanliness, and is recommended based on the Sunnah (practice of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh).
  • Condition: The cloth must be clean and free of stitching, silk, or any gold.
• Perfume: After the Ghusl, the body is dried with a clean towel. Camphor or other non-alcoholic, good-smelling perfume (Hanūṭ) is applied to the parts of the body that touch the ground during prayer (forehead, nose, hands, knees, and feet). The sheets of the shroud may also be perfumed with incense.

The Layers of the Shroud

The number of cloth pieces differs between men and women, reflecting the need to cover the female body more fully:

Shroud Component	Male (3 pieces)	Female (5 pieces)	Purpose
1. Lifāfah (Outer Wrap)	Required	Required	The largest sheet, covering the body from head to foot.
2. Izar (Body Wrap/Loin Cloth)	Required	Required	Covers the body from the navel down to the feet (or ankles).
3. Qamīṣ (Shirt/Tunic)	Required	Required	Covers the body from the shoulders to the feet (often a sleeveless, gown-like sheet with a neck opening).
4. Khimār (Head Veil/Scarf)	N/A	Required	Covers the head and hair.
5. Sinaband (Chest/Breast Wrap)	N/A	Required	Covers the chest area from the armpits to the thighs.

The Wrapping Procedure

The sheets are laid out, with tie ropes (strips of cloth) placed underneath the bottom layer at the head, middle and feet. Once the wrapping is complete, these ropes are used to secure the shroud.

1. Laying the Body: The cleaned and dried body is gently placed on the laid-out sheets, with the private parts still covered by a temporary cloth.
2. Applying Perfume: Camphor/perfume is rubbed onto the “places of prostration.”
3. Positioning: The deceased’s hands are generally placed at their sides. Some traditions recommend placing the hands on the chest, right over the left, similar to the position in prayer (Ṣalāh).
4. Wrapping (Inner to Outer):
   • The inner pieces are secured, followed by the main Izar.
   • The final, largest sheet (Lifāfah) is wrapped around the body. The wrapping is typically done by folding the left side over the body first, then the right side over that, which ensures the right side is on top.
5. Tying: The tie-ropes are fastened to secure the shroud: one above the head, one below the feet, and two or three around the body. These ties are usually untied once the body is placed in the grave.

The entire process emphasizes purity, modesty, and the return to our creator in a state of extreme humility and equality, as every Muslim, rich or poor, is wrapped in the same simple white cloth.

It is worthy to take note performing ghusl (ritual washing) for a deceased Muslim (mayyit) is a highly meritorious, blessed act, holding significant spiritual rewards while fulfilling a communal obligation. The primary condition for receiving these rewards is that the person performing the washing conceals any defects or faults they may see on the deceased.

We learn from the Hadith:

Sayyida ‘Aishah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, “Whoever washes a deceased person, and he fulfills the trust and does not expose any defect, he will emerge from his sins as on the day his mother bore him.” (Ahmad 24881)

Link to video demonstrating how to Bath the dead (Ghusl)