whatever is ready to come out. Accordingly, he presses the abdomen four times: the first time before cleansing the private parts, when he raises the head to a near-sitting position; and three times while washing him.

His statement, “If three washes do not cleanse him, more is added until he is clean,” means that if the deceased is not cleansed by three washes, the washing is increased until he is clean. This is because the purpose is to purify him. Usually, failure to become clean occurs when a man has worked in a trade involving clay, gypsum, or the like, or when he has suffered from a prolonged illness, such that dirt has accumulated on him. Thus, if they wash him three times and he is not clean, further washes are added until he is clean.

The evidence for this is the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him, to the women who were washing his daughter: “Wash her three times, or five, or seven, or more than that if you consider it necessary.” (1) This is left to the judgment of the one performing the washing, but it is not merely a matter of personal preference or whim; rather, it is the judgment required by what serves the best interest.

The criterion distinguishing a discretionary choice based on personal preference from one based on best interest is this: when the purpose is to make matters easier for the person performing the action, and the matter concerns him rather than someone else, it is a choice based on personal preference. But when it concerns another person, it is a choice based on best interest.

An example of a choice based on personal preference is Allah’s saying:

“Then its expiation is to feed ten needy people from the average of what you feed your own families, or to clothe them, or to free a slave.” [al-Ma'idah 5:89]

An example of a choice based on best interest is when the guardian of an orphan is told: “Sell the orphan’s property, or invest it in trade.”