It is narrated from Abdullah bin Abi Bakr that Sayyida Asma bint Umais, may Allah be pleased with her, gave her husband, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, the ritual bath (ghusl) when he passed away. Then she went out and asked the Muhajirun: "I am fasting and it is very cold, is ghusl also obligatory upon me?" They replied: "No."

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: I heard from the people of knowledge, they used to say: When a woman dies and there are no women present to give her ghusl, nor any of her mahrams, nor her husband, then tayammum should be performed for her on her face and hands with earth.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Similarly, if a man dies and there is no man present except women, then tayammum should be performed for him.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: In our view, there is no fixed limit for washing the deceased; rather, one should wash until complete cleanliness is achieved.