Ghusl for touching a dead body

527. If a person touches a human dead body which has become cold and has not yet been given Ghusl i.e. brings any part of his own body in contact with it, he should perform Ghusl regardless of whether he touched it while asleep or awake, voluntarily or otherwise. Ghusl will also become obligatory (Wajib) even if his nail or bone touches the nail or bone of the dead body. However, Ghusl is not obligatory if one touches a dead animal.

528. If a person touches a dead body which has not yet become entirely cold, Ghusl will not be Wajib, even if the part touched has become cold.

529. If a person brings his hair in contact with the body of a dead person, or if his body touches the hair of the dead person, or if his hair touches the hair of the dead person, as per obligatory precaution, one should perform Ghusl.

530. Ghusl for touching a dead body will become obligatory if a person touches a still-born child or an aborted child, whose age is more than 4 months, or a developed child, even if the age is less than 4 months. Moreover, as per recommended

precaution, Ghusl for touching a dead body become obligatory if a person touches an aborted child, who is under 4 months and whose body is not completely developed.  Hence, if a still-born child, who is about 4 months, whose body has become cold, comes in contact with the outer part of its mother's body, the mother should do Ghusl for touching the dead body. Similarly, if a mother gives birth to a still-born child, who is under 4 months but has developed, as per obligatory precaution, she should perform Ghusl for touching a dead body.

531. A child who is born after its mother has died, as per obligatory precaution, it should perform Ghusl on attaining the age of puberty.

532. If a person touches a dead body after it has been given three obligatory Ghusls, Ghusl for touching will not be Wajib. However, if he touches any part of the dead body before the completion of 3 Ghusls he should do Ghusl for touching the dead body, even if the 3rd Ghusl of that part which he has touched may have been done.

533. If an insane person or a minor touches a dead body, the insane person would perform Ghusl when he becomes sane, and similarly the minor child would perform Ghusl when he attains the age of puberty.

534. If a part containing bone is separated from a living person, or from a dead body which has not yet been given Ghusls, and a person touches that separated part before it has been given Ghusl, it will be obligatory for him to perform Ghusl of touching dead body. However, if a person touches a separated part which do not contain bone, as per obligatory precaution, on should perform Ghusl of touching dead body.

535. As per obligatory precaution, one should perform Ghusl for touching a separated bone which do not have any flesh on it and which has not been given Ghusl, whether it has been separated from a dead body or a living person. The same rule applies to touching the teeth which have been separated from a dead body. However, if a person touches the teeth which have been separated from a living person and does not have any flesh with it or the flesh is very little, Ghusl is not required.

536. The method of doing Ghusl for touching the dead body is the same as Ghusl for Janabat. However, for a person who has done Ghusl for touching a dead body, wants to offer his prayers, if he did not had Wudhu, should perform Wudhu. And if he had Wudhu, since Wudhu becoming void by touching the dead body is debatable, as per precautionary measures, one should also perform Wudhu.

537. One Ghusl is sufficient for one who touches several corpses or touches the same corpse a number of times.

538. A person who has not performed Ghusl after touching a dead body is not prohibited from halting or pausing in a masjid or from having sexual intercourse with his wife, or from reciting the verses of the holy Qur'an which have obligatory Sajdah. However, he should perform Ghusl for offering prayers or for other similar acts of worship. And regarding Wudhu one should act according to the foregoing rules.