Must a martyr (Shaheed) who died while in a state of major ritual impurity (Janaaba) be washed before burial?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Funerals
Primary text
The martyr who died in a state of ritual impurity must undergo ghusl (ritual washing). This is the position held by Abu Hanifa. The evidence for this is the report concerning Hanzalah ibn Abi Rafi' who was killed on the Day of Uhud. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that he saw the angels washing him because he had engaged in intimacy and then rushed to battle upon hearing the call to arms. Furthermore, a required washing due to a cause preceding death, such as ghusl for janaaba, is not negated by death, just as ghusl for other reasons is not negated. The opposing narration lacks the necessary specificity, as it concerns a specific incident regarding the martyrs of Uhud, whereas the narration concerning Hanzalah is specific to him, a martyr of Uhud, and thus takes precedence.
Supporting text
Malik held that the martyr in a state of impurity should not be washed, due to the general nature of a certain report. Al-Shafi' held a position reflecting both rulings. If a woman is pure from her menses (hayd) or post-natal bleeding (nifaas) and is then killed, she is treated like one in a state of janaaba. However, if she is killed while still actively menstruating or experiencing post-natal bleeding, ghusl is not required because purification from hayd or nifaas is a prerequisite for the obligatory ghusl or for the underlying cause necessitating it.