Giving Grain to the One Who Washes the Deceased

Question

In some places it is the custom that when someone dies, the heirs of the deceased take out one or two maunds (a unit of weight, ≈ 37 kg) of grain and put it aside in a corner; before the burial of the deceased they give that grain to the one who washes [the body]. Is it permissible to give grain in this manner or not?

Answer

Setting the grain aside beforehand as a fixed practice is baseless. There is great reward in washing [the deceased] free of charge; nevertheless, in case of need it is also permissible to have the washing done for a fee.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.