Burial Rites & Funeral Prayers

Hazrat Ali’s (ra) body was washed by his two sons and also Hazrat Abdullah bin Ja‘far (ra). Hazrat Ali’s (ra) son, Hazrat Hasan (ra) led the funeral prayer and recited four takbiraat [proclaiming Allah is the Greatest]. Hazrat Ali (ra) was wrapped in three sheets, which did not include a shirt. He was buried before dawn. It is said that Hazrat Ali (ra) had some sacred musk, which was left over from the musk that was applied to the blessed body of the Holy Prophet (sa). Hazrat Ali (ra) had stated as part of his will for that musk to be used on his body. There is a difference of opinion with regard to Hazrat Ali’s (ra) age at the time of his demise. Some narrations state that he was 57 years old at the time of his demise, while some state that he was 58. According to some, he was 65 years old, while others say he was 73 years old. The majority of the sources record the narration of 73 years old to be the most correct.

(Ali Ibn al-Athir, Usdul Ghabah fi Ma‘rifatis Sahabah, Vol. 4, [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2003], p. 115)