4 Immediate Islamic Duties After Death: A First Aid Guide for the Deceased (Shafi’i Fiqh)

The moment after the last breath ceases is the most silent and yet confusing time for the family. Tears may break out, but behind the grief, there is a great responsibility that awaits. Often, due to panic, the family leaves the body unattended until the funeral attendants arrive.

In fact, there is a crucial period—usually the first 1-2 hours after death—where the body is still warm and flexible. If this period is missed, the body will experience rigor mortis, which will complicate the washing and shrouding process later.

After you have confirmed the signs of death (as discussed in our article on the signs of sakaratul maut and how to perform talqin), there are several immediate “first aid” steps that should be carried out without delay.

Here is a guide to what to do after someone dies based on references from the Shafi’i Fiqh book, Asna al-Matalib.

1. Closing the Eyes of the Deceased and Praying for Them

The eyes of a newly deceased person are often open. This happens because the gaze of the eyes follows the soul as it ascends to the heavens. Leaving the eyes open for too long will cause them to dry out and become difficult to close, which can create a disturbance or a bad impression on the face of the deceased.

In the book Asna al-Matalib it is mentioned:

قوله: (وَيُسَنُّ إغْمَاضُهُ) لِلْحَدِيثِ الصَّحِيحِ إنَّ الرُّوحَ إذَا قُبِضَ تَبِعَهُ الْبَصَرُ

“And it is recommended to close one’s eyes, based on a sahih hadith: ‘Indeed, when the soul is taken, the gaze of the eyes will follow it.'”

How to do it: Gently wipe his/her face from top to bottom while slowly closing the eyelids. While doing so, it is recommended to recite the prayer for closing the eyes of the deceased:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَعَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِـ(…) وَارْفَعْ دَرَجَتَهُ فِي الْمَهْدِيِّينَ، وَاخْلُفْهُ فِي عَقِبِهِ فِي الْغَابِرِينَ، وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَافْسَحْ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَنَوِّرْ لَهُ فِيهِ

Bismillahi wa ‘ala millati Rasulillahi. Allahummaghfir li (mention the name of the deceased) warfa’ darajatahu (darajataha) fil mahdiyyina, wakhlufhu (wakhlufha) fi ‘aqibihi (aqibiha) fil ghabirina, waghfir lana wa lahu (laha) ya Rabbal ‘alamina, wafsah lahu (laha) fi qabrihi (qabriha) wa nawwir lahu (laha) fihi.

(Note: For a female corpse, use the phrase in parentheses.)

“O Allah, forgive [mention the name of the deceased], elevate their status among those who are rightly guided, grant a replacement for their descendants, forgive us and them, O Lord of the worlds, widen their grave, and fill it with light.”

2. Binding the Jaw to Prevent the Mouth from Hanging Open

Have you ever seen a corpse with its mouth wide open? This happens because the jaw muscles completely relax at the time of death, then lock in the open position when the body stiffens. This can look frightening and invite animals (flies) to enter.

Therefore, binding the jaw of the deceased is a highly emphasized act that must be done immediately while it is still relaxed.

Reference from Asna al-Matalib:

قوله: (ويشد لحييه بعصابة عريضة يربطها فوق رأسه) حفظا لفمه عن الهوام وقبح منظره 

“And (it is sunnah) to tie his jaws with a wide cloth, the two ends of which are tied over his head, so that his mouth does not remain open and insects enter it and its appearance becomes unsightly.”

Technical Steps:

1. Take a long cloth or a clean scarf.
2. Place the middle part of the cloth under the deceased’s chin.
3. Pull both ends of the cloth towards the crown of the head (top of the head).
4. Tie it tightly (but not painfully) until the mouth is completely closed.

3. Relaxing the Joints (Talyin al-Mafasil)

This is a point rarely known by laypeople. Often during the washing of the deceased (ghusl), the body’s hands are already stiff like a statue, making it difficult to clean the creases. The solution is to loosen the joints (mobilizing) shortly after death.

The book Asna al-Matalib explains:

قوله: (ويلين مفاصله بالمد والرد) فيرد ساعده إلى عضده وساقه إلى فخذه وفخذه إلى بطنه ثم يمدها (و) يلين (أصابعه) تسهيلا لغسله وتكفينه فإن في البدن بعد مفارقة الروح بقية حرارة فإذا لينت المفاصل حينئذ لانت وإلا فلا يمكن تليينها بعد

“And it is recommended to flex the joints of the deceased by extending and bending them, by bending the forearm to the upper arm, the calf to the thigh, and the thigh to the abdomen, then straightening them again.

(And) also flexes his/her fingers and toes to facilitate the process of washing and shrouding the body. Because indeed, in the body after the separation of the soul, there is still residual warmth. If the joints are flexed at that time, they will become limp (easy to move); if not, it will no longer be possible to flex them afterwards (because they will become stiff).

What should be done?

• Hands: Bend the deceased’s arms towards their shoulders, then straighten them again. Do this several times gently. Open and close their fingers.
• Legs: Bend the knees towards the stomach, then straighten them again.

Do this while the body is still warm. If it has become cold, do not force it, as it could break bones.

Now, after the jaw is securely bound and the joints are relaxed, the body is ready to be purified. Learn the difference between the obligatory and the perfect methods in the guide [How to Wash a Corpse: Minimal Standard vs. Perfect According to Fiqh].

4. Placing a Weight on the Stomach

The next step is to place a somewhat heavy object on the deceased’s abdomen. The purpose is not superstitious, but purely physical/medical. The deceased’s abdomen is prone to bloating due to residual digestive gases. If bloated, the body will look less presentable.

قوله: (ويضع على بطنه) شيئا (ثقيلا كسيف ومرآة) ونحوهما من أنواع الحديد (ثم طين رطب) ثم ما تيسر لئلا ينتفخ

“And it is recommended to place something heavy on his abdomen, such as a sword or a mirror, or another object made of iron. After that, it is covered with wet clay, or anything possible, with the aim of preventing the abdomen from bloating.”

Use an object weighing approximately 1-2 kg, which could be a bag of soil, iron, or a knife (as long as the purpose is as a weight, not a belief in warding off evil spirits). Place it on top of the covering cloth, not directly on the skin.

Additional Actions: Removing Clothing and Covering with Cloth

After the 4 core actions above, there are two more things to consider to prevent the body from decaying quickly:

1. Removing Sewn Clothes (Tajrid): Tight clothing will make things difficult as the body begins to stiffen. Additionally, clothing can keep body temperature warm, thus accelerating decomposition. Replace the clothing with loose shrouds.
2. Covering the Entire Body (Tasjiyah): Cover the deceased from head to toe with a thin cloth (or any clean sheet). Do not use overly thick cloth (thick blankets) as it can trap body heat and accelerate decomposition.

Family Checklist Summary Table

To avoid confusion, here is a checklist you can use:

Action	Purpose	How to Do It
Close Eyes	To prevent dryness & a frightening appearance	Wipe the face downwards while praying, gently close the eyelids.
Tie the Jaw	To prevent the mouth from gaping open	Tie a cloth from under the chin, knotting it upwards to the crown of the head.
Loosen Joints	To facilitate washing & shrouding	Bend and straighten the arms and legs while the body is still warm.
Weight on the Stomach	To prevent bloating	Place an object weighing approximately ±1kg on the stomach (covered with cloth).
Change Clothes	To prevent rapid decomposition	Remove tight clothing, cover with a thin, long cloth.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Performing things done after someone dies is our final respect to the deceased. By taking good care of the body immediately after death, we have facilitated the affairs of those who will later wash and shroud it.

After the body has been treated, bound, and covered with cloth, the next step is to prepare the bathing area. You can learn the procedure in detail in our article: [A Complete Guide to the Treatment of the Deceased (Tajhizul Jenazah) According to the Sunnah].

May Allah have mercy on the deceased of our families and grant patience to those left behind.

And Allah knows best.