Is there any suitable Hadith which mentions the virtue of bathing the deceased?
Answer
There is great reward for giving ghusl to the deceased, on condition that a person conceals all the defects/faults of the deceased.
Sayyiduna Abu Rafi’ (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whomsoever gives ghusl to a deceased and conceals his defects, forty (40) of his major sins will be forgiven…”
(Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 929. Also see: Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 1 pg. 354)
‘Allamah Mundhiri states that the narrators are reliable (muhtajjum bihim fis sahih). Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al ‘Asqalani (rahimahullah) has declared the chain authentic (isnaduhu qawiyy) and Hafiz Haythami (rahimahullah) has also declared the narrators reliable.
(Targhib, vol. 4 pg. 338, Ad Dirayah, vol. 1 pg. 431, Hadith: 391 and Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 3 pg. 21)
Also see here.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar