Prior to performing any rituals after death, permission must be obtained from wali (next of kin/personal representative). Permission is not necessary if the deceased had previously consented to have such rituals performed.

According to Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A.S.), if an individual recites the following du’a while giving ghusl to a mayyit, his sins of a year will be forgiven with the exception of Gunah-e-Kabeera.

Du’a While Giving Ghusl
Cleanse the body thoroughly to remove anything, including najasat, that may prevent the water from reaching the skin. Remove any tubes, needles, or tape that may remain on the body. Prior to performing any of the required three ghusls, ensure that any soap used to cleanse the body has been thoroughly removed.

Method of Giving Ghusl

Ghusl is given in three stages. Each ghusl is given in the same manner as described below.

First, wash the head down to the neck. Special care should be taken when washing the head to ensure that water reaches the hair roots.

Then, wash the right side of the body, front and back, from the shoulder down to the foot, ensuring that the water covers part of the neck area.

Lastly, wash the left side of the body, front and back, from the shoulder down to the foot, again ensuring that the water covers part of the neck area.

The above should be done in such a way that water reaches all parts of the skin.

Method of Giving Ghusl-e-Mayyit

Ghusl-e-Mayyit consists of three separate ghusls.

The first ghusl to be performed is with Sidr leaves. One should make a niyyah (intention) of the following: “I am performing ghusl with Sidr water as an obligatory act, Qurbatan Il-lal-laah.”

The second ghusl to be performed is with Camphor water. One should make a niyyah of the following: “I am performing ghusl with Camphor water as an obligatory act, Qurbatan Il-lal-laah.”

It is important to note the quantity of Sidr leaves or Camphor should not be so much such that the water becomes mudhaaf (mixed). Likewise, the quantities should not be so little such that it can be said that Sidr leaves or Camphor has not been added to the water.

The third ghusl to be performed with clean (tap) water. One should make a niyyah of the following: “I am performing ghusl with clean water as an obligatory act, Qurbatan Il-lal-laah.”

Once these ghusls have been performed, the body of the deceased should be gently dried with a clean towel.

Upon completion of these three ghusls, the body of the deceased is clean of najasat and anyone who touches it will not be required to perform Ghusl-e-Mase Mayyit.

The following are some additional rules to be aware of when performing ghusl:

While giving ghusl, cover the body, or at least the private parts of it, with a sheet of cloth. It is haraam to look at the private parts of a mayyit
While performing ghusl it is better to recite Surah/Ayat of the Qur’an and Du’a for the marhum than keeping quiet or chatting
The person giving ghusl should be a Muslim adult, mentally stable, and aware of the basic rules of ghusl. He/she should belong to the same gender as the deceased, but if not available, a mahram of the opposite gender can give ghusl provided that the private parts are completely covered. Gender is disregarded when giving ghusl to the body of a small child
It is haram to accept remuneration for giving ghusl. If remuneration is paid and received as an earning, the ghusl will be batil (void). It is, however, permissible to charge for the cost of items used during ghusl such as soap, etc.
If a fetus of four months or over is still-born, it is obligatory to give it ghusl. If it has not completed four months, but has the features of a human child, it must be given ghusl, as a precaution. Else, the fetus should be wrapped up in a cloth and buried without ghusl
If both Sidr leaves and Camphor, or either of them, is not available, then the body should be given ghusl, on the basis of precaution, with pure water instead of the ghusl which is not possible. In such a case, tayammum should be performed on the mayyit after the three ghusls of pure water
If water is not available or the body has open and bleeding wounds or is partially crushed, or any other valid reason for abstaining from using water, and, as no rule of Jabirah is applicable to Ghusl-e-Mayyit, tayammum should be given instead of ghusl. However, the recommended precaution is to give three tayammums, and in one of the tayammums, there should be a Niyyah of Maa fi-zimmah which means that the person giving tayammum resolves that this tayammum is given to absolve him of his responsibility
Method of giving Tayammum to the mayyit is that the person giving Tayammum strikes his own palms on clean earth and then wipes them on the face and back of the hands of the deceased. However, the obligatory precaution is that he should, if possible, use the hands of the mayyit to do its own Tayammum. This may not be possible in countries where the climatic conditions are prohibitive
Giving ghusl to a Muslim child is obligatory even if the child is of illegitimate birth. Giving ghusl, shrouding, and burying a disbeliever and his offspring is not obligatory; however, if the child of a disbeliever is mumayyiz (minor) and expresses belief in Islam, he is a believer. As for someone who was insane from childhood and reached the age of legal responsibility while he was insane, in the event that his father or his mother is Muslim, he must be given ghusl
If someone dies while in the state of ḥayḍ or janābah, it is not necessary to give that person the ghusl for ḥayḍ or the ghusl for janābah; rather, the ghusl given to a mayyit will suffice
For additional guidance, refer to Taudhihul Masae’l (Islamic Laws) of Ayatollah Sistani.