The Shaykh (Al-Mufid), may Allah سبحانه وتعالى support him, narrated to me from Abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn ‘Ali, from Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, from Ahmad ibn Idris, from Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya, from Ahmad ibn al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali ibn Faddal, from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id, from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah, from ‘Ammar ibn Musa:
Abu ‘Abdullah عليه السلام was asked about the washing (Ghusl) of the deceased. Imam عليه السلام said: "You begin by placing a cloth over his private area, then sprinkle water on his chest and knees. Then start by washing his head and beard with lotus leaves (Sidr) until it is cleaned. Next, wash the right side of his body and then the left side. If you wash his head and beard with marshmallow (Khitmi), there is no harm. Pass your hand over his back and abdomen with a jug of water until you finish both sides. Then take some camphor and add half a seed’s worth to a jug of water. Wash his head and beard, then his right side, and then his left side. Rub your hand over his entire body. Raise his head and beard slightly, then press his abdomen gently so that whatever remains inside may exit. Clean his back passage using a cloth, and tilt his head slightly to expel any residue from his nose. Wash him with a jug of pure water. This makes three jugs, but if you use more, it is fine. Insert some cotton into his rectum to block any leakage. Then dry him with a clean cloth. Wash your hands up to the elbows and feet up to the knees. Then shroud him, starting by placing some cotton mixed with powdered perfume (Dharirah) on his private parts and tightly binding his thighs. Perfume his clothes with the smoke of three incense sticks, then spread the outer shroud (Lifafah) lengthwise, sprinkle it with Dharirah, and spread the lower garment (Izar) lengthwise to cover the chest and legs. Next, prepare a cloth about a span and a half wide, then the shirt (Qamis). Bind the cloth tightly around the shirt over the private parts to conceal them completely. Place camphor in his ears, on the traces of his prostrations, and in other areas, but use it sparingly. Place cotton on his eyes and ears, and apply a little inside. Then wrap his head with a turban, letting one end hang about a span long over his left side, and let it cover his face. The one who washes the deceased must then bathe, as must anyone who touches the body. If the deceased has already been washed, the shroud should preferably include a Burd (striped cloth). If not available, use cotton fabric, and if no cotton turban is available, use one made of Saberi cloth. For a woman, half a Mann of cotton should be used for her private parts. The shrouding begins with the shirt, followed by the cloth (Khirqah) over the shirt, covering the buttocks, thighs, and private parts. The length of the cloth should be three and a half arm-lengths, and its width should be a span and a half. The lower garment is tied next, followed by the outer shroud and then the turban over the face. Sprinkle camphor on each layer of clothing and spread Dharirah over the shroud. If there is a tear in the shroud, it should be repaired. The first jug is used to wash the deceased with water and lotus leaves (Sidr). The second jug contains water mixed with crushed camphor - about half a seed. The third jug is plain water."
