Those who meet their death in accidents should receive the same washing like others

Q 1: One of my sons is 18 years old. Allah (Exalted be He) decreed that he and another three persons died while travelling in the car of one of his friends. He hired the car from a company. The car fell with them from the top of a mountain and they all died. On burying them, they bled so much that we thought that their blood would not cease. By then, one of the Shaykhs came to us and said: Do not wash them as long as they bleed, perhaps they are martyrs. Wrap a shroud over their remaining clothes and around them as they are. We did so without washing them. We do not know whether this is permissible or not. Please give me Fatwa about this matter.

A 1: It is obligatory to wash the above-mentioned dead people as is done with other dead Muslims. The above-mentioned statement that their ruling is like that of the martyrs is incorrect, because the martyr, who is not washed, is the one who dies on the battlefield doing Jihad (fighting in the Cause of Allah) against the unbelievers. However, due to the fact that they were buried and the Janazah (Funeral) Prayer has been offered for them, these (rituals) should not be repeated. Those who neglected to do this should make Istighfar (seeking forgiveness from Allah) and repent for failing to do their duty towards the dead Muslims.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.