Chapter: Restraining oneself from disclosing anything displeasing that one observes in the deceased
928 – Abu Rafiʿ Aslam, the freedman of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever washes a dead person and conceals what he observes, Allah will forgive him forty times.” Related by al-Hakim, who declared it authentic according to the criteria of Muslim.
[Commentary]
Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) says in his book Riyad al-Saliheen, under the chapter “Concealing from the deceased what one has seen of anything displeasing,” and he then cited the hadith of the Messenger’s ﷺ freedman, which speaks of the merit earned by the washer when he hides from others whatever disliked matter he may notice on the deceased.
What one may encounter of such disliked matters falls into two categories:
- Matters related to the deceased’s spiritual state.
- Matters related to his physical body.
As for the first category, suppose the washer sees that the deceased’s face has altered, turned dark, and become ugly—Allah forbid. This, we seek Allah’s protection, is a sign of an evil end. In that case it is impermissible for him to go about telling people, “I saw this man in such a condition,” because this