made of sealed planks, whereas the washing table used now is not like that.

The second reason is to facilitate the discharge of anything in his abdomen that is ready to come out. If his head is raised and his body slopes down toward his feet, whatever is prepared to come out will do so.

His statement, “facing the qiblah and sloping toward his feet,” describes how he is to be placed upon the washing table, so we do not count these as separate matters.

His statement, “and hastening his preparation, if he did not die suddenly”: this is the eighth matter (1), namely, hastening the preparation of the deceased, based on the Prophet’s statement: “Hasten the funeral procession. If the deceased was righteous, then it is a good to which you are bringing him forward; and if he was otherwise, then it is an evil that you are removing from your necks.” (2) However, its apparent meaning concerns the case when the bier is being carried, for his words, “an evil that you are removing from your necks,” apparently indicate that what is meant is hastening it as it is being escorted. Yet we say: if hastening the funeral procession is required despite the hardship it entails for those accompanying it, then hastening the preparation of the deceased is even more deserving.

As for the hadith, “The corpse of a Muslim should not be kept among his family,” (3) it is weak.

His statement, “if he did not die suddenly”: if he died suddenly, it is not recommended to hasten his preparation, since it is possible that he may have suffered a fainting spell rather than actually died; and this matter is