Q: My question is that, if nikah has terminated with the death of the husband then why can she still bath her deceased husband?
A: The reason for the difference in the ruling between both situations (i.e. the wife can give ghusal to the deceased husband but the husband cannot give ghusal to his deceased wife) is that when the wife passes away, the marriage immediately terminates. Hence, the husband is treated as a stranger to his wife. However, in the case of the husband passing away, the wife remains in the nikaah until the completion of the iddah. Hence, it is permissible for the wife to give ghusal to the deceased husband.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)