🕌 Worship in the home · #7

May a wife wash her husband's body, and a husband wash his wife's body?

In the Shafi'i school, both are permitted. Asma' bint Umais washed the body of her husband Abu Bakar, and Ali bin Abi Talib washed the body of Fatimah. A wife, including any wife in polygyny, may wash her husband even while she is in her ʿiddah, and a husband may wash his wife. However, priority in washing a man's body goes to the closest male relatives, and a woman's body to the closest female relatives, if the wife or husband does not wish to or cannot. Cover the deceased's ʿawrah and protect their dignity. A wife who has been divorced by an irrevocable talaq (ba'in) may no longer wash her former husband.

Difference between schools. The Hanafi school does not permit a husband to wash his wife's body because the marriage bond ends with death, but permits a wife to wash her husband during the ʿiddah.

Sources

Narrated by Malik in al-Muwatta'

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This answer is general reference, not a fatwa. For your situation, consult the religious affairs office, a Syarie lawyer or your state Syariah Court.

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