Wear white clothes, for they are among the best of your clothes; and shroud your deceased in them
Authenticعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضيَ اللهُ عنهُما قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «البَسُوا مِنْ ثِيَابِكُمُ البَيَاضَ، فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ خَيْرِ ثِيَابِكُمْ، وَكَفِّنُوا فِيهَا مَوْتَاكُمْ».
Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Wear white clothes, for they are among the best of your clothes; and shroud your deceased in them."
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) instructs men to wear white clothes and to shroud the deceased in it, as it is among the best of garments.
Benefits
- It is recommended to wear a white garment, though other colors are permissible.
- It is recommended to shroud the deceased in white.
- Ash-Shawkāni said: The Hadīth indicates the permissibility of wearing white and shrouding the deceased in it, as it is purer than other colors and more pleasant. As for it being more pleasant, this is obvious, and as for it being purer, it is because any impurity that falls on it is more apparent, making it preferable.
Source · Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, At-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Mājah
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).