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:

Assalam wa aleikum Brother,

Ramazaan Mubarak!!!

I have a question to ask regarding relationship between husband and wife.

Is it haraam for husband to touch/see his wife once she dies, as one of my relative was told not to see his wife after she died by elders?

Please help us in showing the right path in name of Allah in light oh Quran and Hadees, so that we are not in ignorance.

(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:

See deceased wife

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.

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.

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.) ibn Abi Taalib 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.

There is absolutely no restriction, and it is permissible and lawful in Shariah for a husband/wife to even wash the body of their deceased spouse, leave alone see or touch it……..if indeed they wish or choose to do so!

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