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Ruling 537*

If a person specifies in his will (waṣiyyah) that an individual other than his guardian is to personally perform his ghusl, shroud him, or pray over him, it is not necessary for that individual to accept the request. However, if he does accept, he must perform those duties and there is no need for him to get the guardian’s consent. If a person specifies in his will that an individual has authority over these matters and is responsible for and in charge of matters concerning his body after his death, such that the individual may choose to perform the duties himself or appoint someone else to do them, then, in this case, the obligatory precaution is that the individual must accept the request. However, if accepting the request would be extraordinarily difficult for him, or if he rejects the request while the person who made the will is still alive and the news of his rejection reaches him and he is able to specify someone else in his will, then in these cases, it is not obligatory for him to accept.

  • Commentary

    This ruling changed in March 2022. The previous version of the ruling was as follows:

    “If a deceased person had specified someone other than his guardian to perform his ghusl, shrouding, burial, and prayers, then the responsibility of performing these duties lies with the appointed person. It is not necessary for the person whom the deceased has requested to personally undertake performing the duties, to accept the request; however, if he does accept, he must perform those duties.”