Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,

For a man’s body, the order of preference for who should wash him is as follows:

1)       Those who are most entitled to lead the funeral prayer are most entitled to perform the ghusl; the most learned takes preference over the eldest. Relatives are given preference over strangers.

2)       The deceased’s wife, even if remarried.

3)        Female relatives.

And for a woman’s body:

1)       Female relatives.

2)       Other women.

3)       Her husband, even if remarried.

4)       Male relatives; their preference is based on who is more entitled to lead the funeral prayer.

This order of preference considers that the person washing is: 1) free, 2) shares the same religion as the deceased, 3) did not commit murder which would abdicate the right of inheritance and 4) is not a transgressor or hostile.

If there are only strange members of the opposite gender available, tayammum should be made. There is no problem for a man or woman to wash a pre-pubescent boy or girl.

(al-Hawashy al-Madaniyyah 1/107; Mughni al-Muhtaj 2/13)

And Allah knows best.

Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.