Can husband see the face of his wife after death or vice versa?
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
(May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
can
husband see the face of his wife after death or vice versa?
(There may be some grammatical and spelling
errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in
confidentiality.)
Answer:
Husband see deceased wife face
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that
there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
The majority of scholars consider it
permissible, as is shown by a report, narrated by ad-Daraqutni and Al-Baihaqi,
that Hadrat Ali (r.a.) washed the body of his deceased wife Hadrat Fatimah
(r.a.) upon her death. This is also supported by a hadith that the Prophet
(saws) said to 'Aishah: "If you die before me, I will myself wash you and
enshroud you." Related by Ibn Maajah.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 4.31
The jurists are agreed on the permissibility
of a wife washing the body of her dead husband. Hadrat Aishah (r.a.) said: "Had I known
then what I know now, I would not have allowed anyone, except his wives, to
wash the body of the Prophet (saws)." Related by Ahmad, Abu Daw'ud, and by
al-Hakim.
Shariah Laws allows and permits the husband to wash the
body of his deceased wife in preparation for her funeral, if indeed he wishes
to do so (and vice versa); and there is absolutely no restriction in Shariah if
the husband (or the wife) wish to see the face of their deceased spouse.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
Wister