Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard people ofknowledge say, "When a woman dies and there are no women with her towash her and no man who has the right by blood ties to take charge ofthat for her and no husband to take charge of it for her, she shouldbe purified by tayammum ,that is, by wiping her face and hands withearth."Malik said, "When a man dies and there are only womenwith him, they also should purify him with earth ."Maliksaid, "There is no particular way with us for washing the dead nor anyrecognised way to do it. They are just washed and purified."
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 16, Hadith 4
Arabic reference: Book 16, Hadith 525