339 - Issue: He said: (And hot water, al-ushnan (alkali plant), and the toothpick are to be used if needed).

These three are to be used when there is a need for them, such as if hot water is needed because of extreme cold, or for dirt that will not be removed except by it. Likewise, al-ushnan is used if there is dirt on the deceased. Ahmad said: "If the patient's illness is prolonged, he is washed with al-ushnan." He means that his dirt becomes abundant, so he needs al-ushnan to remove it. The toothpick (al-khilal) is needed to extract something. It is recommended that it be from a soft tree such as willow and the like, which cleanses without causing injury. If he wraps cotton around its head, that is good. He should investigate what is under his nails until he cleans them. If there is no need for any of that, it is not recommended to use it. This is the opinion of al-Shafi'i. Abu Hanifa said: Heated (water) is better in all cases, because it cleanses what cold water does not cleanse. Our argument is that cold water tightens while heated water relaxes. For this reason, camphor is placed in water to tighten and cool it. Cleansing is achieved with sidr (lotus jujube) if the dirt is not excessive; if it is excessive or will not be removed except with hot water, it becomes recommended.

340 - Issue: He said: (And he washes the third time with water containing camphor and sidr, and it should not contain whole sidr leaves).

The obligatory (requirement) in washing the deceased is once; [because it is a washing that is obligatory without any impurity having affected him, so it is once,] like the washing for janaba (major ritual impurity) and menstruation. It is recommended that he be washed