It is mustahabb to remove the deceased’s clothes when washing him

Itis mustahabb when washing the deceased to remove hisclothes — this is the view of the majority of scholars — apart from his ‘awrah, which must be covered, and there is no difference ofopinion on this point.

Al-Bahooti (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Then hisclothes should be removed — this is recommended, because that makes itpossible to wash him and purify him more effectively, and it is more akin towashing one who is alive, and it is more likely to protect him from impuritiesif it is possible that such may come out of him, and because the Sahaabah did that based on the fact that they said: We didnot know whether to remove the Prophet’s clothes as we did for our dead.

Endquote from Kashf al-Qinaa‘,2/91

Itsays in al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah,13/52: The Hanafis and Maalikisare of the view that it is mustahabb to remove theclothes of the deceased when washing him, because the purpose of washing is topurify and that may be done more effectively by removing the clothes, andbecause if he is washed in his clothes, the clothes may be made impure (najis) by what comes out, and he may not be purified. Thecorrect opinion according to the Shaafa‘is is that hemay be washed in his chemise. As for covering the ‘awrah,there is no difference of opinion concerning that. End quote.

ShaykhIbn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allahhave mercy on him) said: The correct view is that his clothes should be removedapart from his ‘awrah, which is the area between thenavel and the knee.

Endquote from Sharh al-Kaafi.

And Allah knows best.