Chapter 154

Prohibition of Disclosing the Physical defects of the Deceased

928. Abu Rafi` Aslam (May Allah be pleased with him), the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “He who washes a dead body and conceals what he notices of physical defects, he will be forgiven forty times.”

[Al-Hakim].

Commentary:  If during washing a man’s dead body, the washer has noticed some physical defect or some sort of deformation in it, he should avoid disclosing it to others so that a bad name may not come to the departed soul. Yet, the deformity in his body may have come as a Divine vengeance for the sinful and heretic life led by him in this world. In this case, there will be room for such a disclosure. Because on being dreaded and warned of a horrible end, people will come to adopt a clean and pure life in accordance with the religious principles.

 Reference

Riyadh ul Saliheen