Did Al-Albani retract his authentication of the hadith "Whoever washes a deceased person, let him perform ghusl, and whoever carries him, let him perform wudu’" in his later books, considering it mawquf (وقف) rather than marfu‘ (مرفوع)?

The noble Hadith states: "Whoever washes a deceased person, let him perform ghusl (full ablution), and whoever carries him, let him perform wudu (partial ablution)." This Hadith was authenticated by Al-Albani in Irwa' al-Ghalil, Sahih Sunan Abi Dawud, and Ahkam al-Jana'iz, and there is no confirmed retraction of his authentication.

It was also authenticated by Ibn Taymiyyah, Al-Shawkani, Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn al-Qattan, and Ibn Hazm. Ibn Hajar said: "The worst of its states is that it is 'Hasan' (good) due to its numerous chains of transmission."

However, ghusl for one who washes the deceased and wudu for one who carries him are considered recommended (mustahabb) by the majority of scholars, not obligatory.

Al-Khatib narrated, and Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar authenticated, from Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both): "We used to wash the deceased, and some of us would perform ghusl while others would not." Al-Khattabi said: "I do not know of any jurist who obligates ghusl upon one who washes the deceased, nor wudu upon one who carries him. It seems that the matter in this regard is based on recommendation."