Hadith 49

Sahih Muslim

Book 11: The Book of Prayer - Funerals

Chapter 12

Washing the deceased

باب فِي غَسْلِ الْمَيِّتِ ‏

Sahih Muslim 939d
وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ حَفْصَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ، ‏.‏ بِنَحْوِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ ‏ ‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَتْ حَفْصَةُ عَنْ أُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ وَجَعَلْنَا رَأْسَهَا ثَلاَثَةَ قُرُونٍ ‏.‏
"‏ ثَلاَثًا أَوْ خَمْسًا أَوْ سَبْعًا أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكِ إِنْ رَأَيْتُنَّ ذَلِكِ ‏"
A hadith like this has been transmitted by Hafsa on the authority of Umm 'Atiyya with the exception (of these words that the Prophet asked them to wash her dead body):

" three times, five times, seven times, or more than that, if you deem fit:" Hafsa (further) said on the authority of Umm 'Atiyya: We braided (the hair) of her head in three plaits.