The Book of Prayer - Funerals
11/12. Chapter:
Washing the deceased
Sahih Muslim
وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ حَفْصَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ، . بِنَحْوِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " ثَلاَثًا أَوْ خَمْسًا أَوْ سَبْعًا أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكِ إِنْ رَأَيْتُنَّ ذَلِكِ " . فَقَالَتْ حَفْصَةُ عَنْ أُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ وَجَعَلْنَا رَأْسَهَا ثَلاَثَةَ قُرُونٍ .
A hadith like this has been transmitted by Hafsa on the authority of Umm 'Atiyya with the exception (of these words that the Prophet asked them to wash her dead body): " three times, five times, seven times, or more than that, if you deem fit:" Hafsa (further) said on the authority of Umm 'Atiyya: We braided (the hair) of her head in three plaits.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 939dIn-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 49USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 2044