Who should be responsible for closing the eyes and subsequent washing of the deceased?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Funerals
Primary text
It is recommended that the person most gentle and capable of doing so should handle the deceased's affairs, including closing the eyes. Ahmad stated that a close female relative may close the eyes of a female deceased. However, it is disliked for a menstruating woman (*ha'id*) or one in a state of major ritual impurity (*junub*) to close the eyes or approach the deceased. This view is held by Al-Hasan, Ibn Sirin, 'Ata, Malik, and similarly disliked by Al-Shafi'i and Alqamah.
Supporting text
Ishaq and Ibn al-Mundhir permit the *junub* to wash the deceased, citing the principle that a believer is not impure. However, it is considered superior and more complete for the one performing the eye-closing and washing to be ritually pure.