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Why cannot the husband touch his wife after her death?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Fatwa-TT.com
Question:

My husband doesn’t understand the fiqh ruling in our madhab, that upon death, the marriage bond is broken, and the husband cannot touch or do ghusl for his wife.
Inshaa-Allah if some clarification, wisdoms and reassurances are provided on this matter, surely he will understand.
Jazaak-Allahukhair for your time and efforts.

 

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

According to the Hanafi Madhab, a man is not allowed to bathe or directly touch his wife after her death, because the bond of nikah is broken upon the wife’s death. The man is at liberty to marry whomsoever he desires, e.g. late wife’s sister whereas he was not allowed to marry her whilst his wife was alive. It is, therefore, not permissible for him to touch her, but he may look at her. Women relatives will have the responsibility of bathing her[1].

You may explain to your husband that being separated from one’s spouse upon death and not being able to touch her, naturally may be saddening. However, this world is temporary, and the hereafter is eternal. One’s main objective should be the pleasures of the hereafter, even if it means sacrificing the wishes and desires of this world. By exercising patience and following Allah’s commands to the fullest, he would be reunited with you in Jannah forever. 

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Arshad Ali

Darul Iftaa, Jaamia Madinatul Uloom (Trinidad)

www.fatwa-tt.com

[1] حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح شرح نور الإيضاح (ص: 571)

والمرأة تغسل زوجها لحل مسه والنظر إليه ببقاء العدة اهـ وهذا

حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح شرح نور الإيضاح (ص: 572)

قوله: “فإنه لا يغسل زوجته” وكذا لا يمسها ولا يمنع من النظر إليها في الأصح تنوير قوله: “لانقطاع النكاح” بانعدام محله فصار الزوج أجنبيا واعتبر بملك اليمين حيث لا ينتفي عن المحل بموت المالك ويبطل بموت المحل فكذا هذا وقالت الأئمة الثلاثة يجوز لأن عليا غسل فاطمة رضي الله عنها قلنا وروى أنها غسلتها أم أيمن ولو ثبت أن عليا غسلها فهو محمول على بقاء الزوجية لقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “كل سبب ونسب ينقطع بالموت إلا سببي ونسبي” مع أن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه أنكر عليه فقال له: أما علمت أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “إن فاطمة زوجتك في الدنيا والآخرة” فدعواه الخصوصية دليل على أنه كان معروفا بينهم أن الرجل لا يغسل زوجته

This answer was collected from Fatwa-tt.com, which is operated by the Darul Iftaa of Jaamia Madinatul Uloom (Trinidad and Tobago) under the advice and guidance of Mufti Ebrahim Desai (Daamat Barakaatuhum) of South Africa.

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