Must the deceased undergo ritual ablution (Wudu) during the washing process?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Funerals
Primary text
After cleansing and removing major impurities, the deceased must be given Wudu as required for prayer. This involves washing the palms, then using a moistened, coarse cloth to gently clean the teeth and nose. Following this, the face is washed, and the rest of the Wudu is completed. This is based on the Sunnah practiced upon the female companions who washed the Prophet's daughter, where it was commanded to 'Begin with her right sides, and the places of Wudu.'
Supporting text
The majority of scholars, including Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib, al-Nakha'i, al-Thawri, and Abu Hanifa, hold that water should not be put into the mouth or nostrils. Al-Shafi'i holds that the mouth should be rinsed and the nostrils cleared, as is done for the living. The argument against insertion is that water might reach the stomach, leading to mutilation, or might exit later into the shroud.