928/1 - Abu Rāfi‘ Aslam, the Prophet’s freed slave, reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who washes a dead person and conceals what he sees, Allah will grant him forgiveness forty times.” [Narrated by Al-Hākim; he classified it as authentic as per the conditions set by Muslim]
1) Concealment of the unpleasant things one sees in a dead person is a means for forgiving sins.
2) It is permissible to tell people about the good things one sees in a dead person. If revealing unpleasant things is disliked, then doing the opposite is commendable.
3) It is recommended that the one who washes a dead person is someone known to be good and to have praiseworthy traits.
The Unpleasant things that could be seen in a dead person are of two types:
First: Things related to his condition.
Second: Things related to his body.
As for the things related to his condition, these include anything that indicates an evil ending for him.
With regard to the things related to his body, these include any physical defect, like leprosy. In either case, it is recommended in both cases not to mention what he saw so that he can obtain the forgiveness of sins as well as the reward for concealing something bad about the deceased. Abu Umāmah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who washes a dead person and conceals him, Allah will conceal him from sins, and he who shrouds a Muslim, Allah will clothe him in fine silk.” [Narrated by Al-Tabarāni in Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabīr]