Question:
1. Please advise how the Camphor should be applied to dead body.
2. What exactly is Camphor, and how can it be obtained?
Seems like this important step is missed out frequently, and the majority including the one’s responsible for funerals in the community are not aware of this Hadith.
Answer:
1) Camphor is a substance that comes from the camphor tree in the laurel family. Camphor is almost transparent. The trees grow tall and have white flowers and green leaves. Most camphor trees grow in Japan and China, and on the island of Formosa. There are a few in southern California and the southern states.
Camphor is taken from branches of the camphor tree by steaming them until they give off drops of camphor as if they were perspiring. The camphor is drained and pressed to remove the oil and water it contains. Camphor then is left in the form of whitish crystals. These crystals are purified into liquid form. (The World Book Encyclopaedia, Vol. C (3), Page 79)
2) The camphor should be applied to those limbs of the body which touch the ground while in Sajdah (Forehead, nose, the hands, feet and knees.)
(Raddul Muhtaar, Vol. 3, Page 89)
Camphor is easily obtainable from pharmacies around the globe.
The following method can be maintained in applying camphor to the body:
After bathing the deceased, he/she should be placed onto the Kafan. Thereafter the camphor should be applied to the areas specified above followed by the enshrouding.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Ebrahim bin Zainul Abedeen Backus
Attested to as correct by:
Mufti Muhammad Ashraf
Darul Iftaa
Jameah Mahmoodiyah
Springs
10 February 2005
01 Muharram 1426