Placing Cotton Wool On The Deceased

While performing Ghusl for a Mayyit, an Aalim commented that I was committing Bid’ah. I had placed cotton wool under the head to keep it aligned, as well placing cotton wool on the private parts to prevent the Kafan from becoming soiled after the Ghusl is completed.

Q1) Is it incorrect to put cotton wool under the head like a pillow?

A1) We could not find any Hadith or Fiqhi (jurisprudence) reference that one should place something under the head. As such, it will be best that nothing is placed under the head. 

Q2) Is it incorrect to cover the private parts with cotton wool to prevent soiling?

A2) There is no need to place cotton wool around the private area after Ghusl has been performed, as the emission of Najaasah (impurity) will not invalidate the Ghusl. Hence, this should also be discarded.

Perhaps what the Aalim meant is that it may lead to Bid’ah if one continuously does this, as people will start thinking this to be the Sunnah method of performing Ghusl.

وفي ط عن الخزانة إذا تنجس الكفن بنجاسة الميت لا يضر دفعا للحرج بخلاف الكفن المتنجس ابتداء. اهـ. وكذا لو تنجس بدنه بما خرج منه إن كان قبل أن يكفن غسل وبعده لا كما قدمناه في الغسل فيقيد ما في القنية بغير النجاسة الخارجة من الميت

(الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين 2 /208)

(Re: Ahsanul Fatawa Vol. 4 Pg. 206)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date: 05 Safar 1448 / 20 July 2026

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb