A leper was buried without being washed

Question

Zayd suffered from leprosy (judham), and the leprosy was quite advanced; in this state Zayd passed away. He had no heir. Now, because of this condition of his, no one was willing to wash him, and without a kafan and without the prayer he was somehow pushed into a pit. What is the ruling on this now?

Answer

If it was difficult to wash him by touching [the body] with the hands, water should have been poured over him from a jug or a water-skin; if even this was not possible, then, with a bag tied over the hand, only tayammum should have been performed for him; then, after the funeral prayer had been performed, he should have been buried.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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