Fatwa #4729714 February 2021South Africa
Disposing sheets used in Covid Ghusal by burning
Question
Could Mufti saheb please advise regarding the following:
Deaths amongst the Muslim community in our area due to Covid 19 only started recently. When giving Ghusl to the deceased who passed on due to Covid 19, bed sheets etc are used. The sheets etc are then disposed off by means of burning them. Would this be regarded as Israaf? Should we look for other alternatives on how to sanitise and reuse them instead of burning them as that will eventually result in us requiring many more sheets as the number of deaths due to Covid 19 rise in our community.
Please advice.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykumwa-rahmatullāhiwa-barakātuh.
May Allāh Ta'āla accept the services of all those engaged in the ghusal process during these trying times.
We have consulted medical practitioners (microbiologists)on the issue. We have been advised that washing the sheets with a washing detergent such as bleach or washing the sheets in temperatures higher than 60 degrees will remove the virus completely. Therefore, one does not need to burn the sheets. Adopting the above mentioned methods will suffice.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ikraam Elias Gangat
Student - Darul Iftaa
Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.