Is ablution required after washing a dead body?
Chapter on What Nullifies Purification
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
Ablution is obligatory after washing a corpse, whether the deceased was young or old, male or female, Muslim or disbeliever. This is the view of Ishaq and an-Nakh'i, and it is narrated from Ibn 'Umar, Ibn Abbas, and Abu Hurayrah who instructed washers of the dead to perform ablution. The reasoning is that it is highly probable that the washer's hand touches the private parts of the deceased, which stands in place of certainty, similar to how sleep replaces ritual impurity (Hadath).
Supporting text
Abu al-Hasan at-Tamimi stated that ablution is not required. This is the opinion of most jurists and is deemed correct because obligation stems from the Lawgiver, and no explicit text or equivalent ruling for this specific case exists, meaning the default state of purity remains. Furthermore, washing a human is analogous to washing a living person. Any narration attributed to Ahmad suggesting obligation should be interpreted as recommendation (Istihbab), as his reasoning for rejecting the Hadith, "Whoever washes a dead body should perform Ghusl," was based on its being authenticated as a saying of Abu Hurayrah rather than the Prophet (peace be upon him). If he did not mandate Ghusl based on Abu Hurayrah's saying (even with the possibility of it being Prophetic), then not mandating Wudu based on his saying, absent that possibility, is more appropriate.