Burning incense sticks near the deceased

Question

What is the ruling on burning incense sticks near the deceased? One person says that this is an imitation connected with fire (tashabbuh bi’l-nar). Is this correct?

Answer

There is a fear that a bad odour may arise from the deceased; therefore, before he is washed, the washing board is fumigated with fragrance. This ruling is recorded in the general books of fiqh, and there is no imitation connected with fire (tashabbuh bi’l-nar) in it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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