Is it permissible for a man to wash a deceased young girl?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Funerals
Primary text
The correct position, adhering to the practice of the Salaf, is that a man is not to wash a deceased young girl. This is based on the differentiation in the definition of modesty (awrah) between a boy and a girl; the girl's modesty is considered more severe. Furthermore, custom dictates that a woman manages a young boy, including washing his private parts during his upbringing, whereas a man's customary handling of a girl's private parts during life is absent, and this ruling applies equally to death.
Supporting text
Imam Abu Abdullah did not permit a man to wash a young girl, stating that women washing the child is more agreeable. Al-Thawri held that a woman washes the boy, and a man washes the girl. Al-Hasan permitted a man to wash his own young daughter. Sa'id and Al-Zuhri disliked a man washing a young girl. Abu Al-Khattab held two differing views on this matter, one that aligns with analogy (qiyas) equating the rulings for boys and girls.