Is ritual bathing (Ghusl) obligatory after washing an infidel's corpse?
Chapter on What Necessitates Ghusl
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
There is a narration attributed to Imam Ahmad suggesting that Ghusl becomes obligatory specifically when washing the corpse of an unbeliever (kafir). This position is substantiated by the report that the Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded Ali to perform Ghusl after washing his (Abu Talib's) father. However, this narration is contested, as Abu Ishaq al-Jawzajani clarified that the Prophet's command to Ali was only to perform Ghusl after he reported the event, not explicitly because he washed the body of Abu Talib, stating only, 'Go and wash it, and do not tell me anything until you come back to me.'
Supporting text
It has also been suggested that Ghusl is obligatory after washing a living non-Muslim. However, there is no known evidence supporting this claim, and the scholars are in disagreement against it.