Fatwa ID: 04130

Answered by: Shaykh Umer Khan

Question

Assalamualaikum, Why do the feet have to be tied after one's death?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

When a person passes away, their eyes and mouth are closed in order to make the deceased presentable and prevent their appearance from becoming fearsome or disliked. The jaws are tied together to prevent anything from entering the mouth. The hands and feet are straightened as this is difficult to do later once the body is cold and stiff (Raddu al-Muḥtar, 2/193). Tying the feet is not a must, but it is recommended in order to prevent the legs from moving about while the body is being transported for washing and shrouding.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Shaykh Umer Khan

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham