What is the ruling on washing a deceased person with Zamzam water?

Zamzam water is the best water that can be found on the face of the earth, second only to the blessed water that flowed from the fingers of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is a sufficient honor for this water that Allah Almighty chose it for the angels to wash the noble chest of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) during the well-known event of the ‘splitting of the chest.’

Extensive textual evidence attests to its unparalleled virtue and honor. These include that hadith narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas in which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) says, “The best water on the face of the earth is the water of Zamzam; in it is food for nourishment and healing for illness” (recorded by at-Tabarani in his Al-Muʿjam al-Awsaṭ and al-Muʿjam al-Kabir). It was also reported that Ibn ʿAbbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said, “We used to call Zamzam Shabbaʿah (satiating) and we considered it the best help in caring for our families”
(recorded by ʿAbdul Razzaq and Ibn Abu Shaybah in their respective Musannaf collections and by at-Ṭabarani in Al-Muʿjam Al-Kabir). Moreover, our master al-ʿAbbas (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say, “I would not wish to exchange Zamzam for all the wealth of the people of Mecca” (recorded by Ibn Saʿd in Al-Tabaqat).

Washing the deceased with Zamzam water

It was the practice of the people of Mecca to wash the deceased with Zamzam water, owing to its blessed nature and virtue. Ibn Abu Mulaykah narrated that Asma` (may Allah be pleased with her) washed the body of her son, Abdullah Ibn al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him), using Zamzam water and Yemeni alum. After shrouding the body, she offered the funeral prayer over him. Al-Fakihi records in Akhbar Makkah that the people of Mecca continue this practice to this day; after washing and cleansing the deceased, the final wash is performed with Zamzam water for its blessings.

The permissibility of washing the deceased with Zamzam water is the view held by the Maliki scholars according to their well-known opinion. Imam al-ʿAdawi, the Maliki scholar, noted in his Hashiyat al-ʿAdawi ʿala Sharh Kifayat al-Talib al-Rabbani (1:411), “… it is recommended [to wash a deceased] with water infused with sidr (lote tree leaves). The word ‘water’ is unrestricted, and thus includes Zamzam water; this is the well-known opinion.”

The ruling
It is permissible to wash the deceased with the blessed water of Zamzam, owing to its virtue and superiority over all other waters, in accordance with the opinion of the scholars who permit it.

And Allah the Almighty knows best.