The Sufficient (Vol 1) · Hadith 998 (#Ḥadīth #1)
Chapter 92 | Only an Imam has the Authority to Wash the Body of an Imam for Burial
1ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْحَلالِ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ عَنِ الرِّضَا قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّهُمْ يُحَاجُّونَّا يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الامَامَ لا يَغْسِلُهُ إِلا الامَامُ قَالَ فَقَالَ مَا يُدْرِيهِمْ مَنْ غَسَلَهُ فَمَا قُلْتَ لَهُمْ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِنْ قَالَ مَوْلايَ إِنَّهُ غَسَلَهُ تَحْتَ عَرْشِ رَبِّي فَقَدْ صَدَقَ وَإِنْ قَالَ غَسَلَهُ فِي تُخُومِ الارْضِ فَقَدْ صَدَقَ قَالَ لا هَكَذَا قَالَ فَقُلْتُ فَمَا أَقُولُ لَهُمْ قَالَ قُلْ لَهُمْ إِنِّي غَسَلْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ أَقُولُ لَهُمْ إِنَّكَ غَسَلْتَهُ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ.
1. al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Ahmad ibn ‘Umar al-Hallal or someone other than him who has said the following. “I said to al-Rida , ‘They argue with us that no one has the authority towash the body of an Imam for burial except.” The narrator has said that the Imam then said, “How they would know who has washed him for burial? What did you say to them?” The narrator has said that I then said, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I told them that if my Imam would say that he has washed his body under the throne of the Lord he has told the truth. If he would saay that he has washed it at the center of the earth he has told the truth.” The Imam said, “It is not that way.” I then asked him, “What then should I say to them (al-waqifiyya sect)?” The Imam said, “Tell them that I (al-Rida ) washed his body for burial.” I then asked, “must I tell them that you have washed his body?” He said, “Yes, I have done so.”
Gradings are classical jarḥ-wa-taʿdīl, name-matched to a rijāl index (not individually re-verified).