Matters pertaining to demise of one’s spouse

Question:-

1. When the husband or wife passes away, does the Nikah break?

2. Is it permissible for the spouse to be present in the same room as the Janaazah prior to burial?

3. In the case of the wife passing away, can the husband assist in the burial of his wife, such as lowering her into the Qabr?

Answer:-

1. The Nikah between husband and wife ceases on the passing away of the wife. It is not permissible for the husband to touch his wife, give her Ghusl, or place her in the grave, particularly if her Mahaarim are present to bury her.

However, the wife is only permitted to remarry after serving her Iddat. Hence, she will still be considered as a wife (in a way) until her Iddat is over.

بیوی کے انتقال سے نکاح ختم ہوجاتا ہے ۔ یہی وجہ ہے کہ اس کی بہن سے نکاح کرسکتا ہے ۔ اس لئے شوہر کا بیوی کے مرنے کے بعد  اسے ہاتھ لگانا اور غسل دینا جائز نہیں (آپ کے مسائل اور ان کا حل ص۳۰۲ ج۴)

(قَوْلُهُ وَيُمْنَعُ زَوْجُهَا إلَخْ) أَشَارَ إلَى مَا فِي الْبَحْرِ مِنْ أَنَّ مِنْ شَرْطِ الْغَاسِلِ أَنْ يَحِلَّ لَهُ النَّظَرُ إلَى الْمَغْسُولِ فَلَا يُغَسِّلُ الرَّجُلُ الْمَرْأَةَ وَبِالْعَكْسِ. اهـ. — (قَوْلُهُ لَا مِنْ النَّظَرِ إلَيْهِمَا عَلَى الْأَصَحِّ) عَزَاهُ فِي الْمِنَحِ إلَى الْقُنْيَةِ، وَنَقَلَ عَنْ الْخَانِيَّةِ أَنَّهُ إذَا كَانَ لِلْمَرْأَةِ مَحْرَمٌ يَمَّمَهَا بِيَدِهِ وَأَمَّا الْأَجْنَبِيُّ فَبِخِرْقَةٍ عَلَى يَدِهِ وَيَغُضُّ بَصَرَهُ عَنْ ذِرَاعِهَا وَكَذَا الرَّجُلُ فِي امْرَأَتِهِ إلَّا فِي غَضِّ الْبَصَرِ اهـ وَلَعَلَّ وَجْهَهُ أَنَّ النَّظَرَ أَخَفُّ مِنْ الْمَسِّ فَجَازَ لِشُبْهَةِ الِاخْتِلَافِ وَاَللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ (رد المحتار ص198 ج2)

2. The surviving spouse is not prohibited from looking at his/her deceased spouse after demise. Hence, it is permissible for the surviving spouse to be in the same room prior to burial.

8 ج)         (وَيُمْنَعُ زَوْجُهَا مِنْ غُسْلِهَا وَمَسِّهَا لَا مِنْ النَّظَرِ إلَيْهَا عَلَى الْأَصَحِّ) مُنْيَةٌ. (رد المحتار ص198 ج2)

3. The Mahaarim of the wife should lower her in the Qabr. If there aren’t any Mahaarim, then the close relatives that are non-Mahram (which includes the husband) may lower her in the Qabr. In conclusion, the husband is not permitted to lower his wife in the grave in the presence of her Mahram relatives. However, he may assist in lowering her in the absence of her Mahaarim.

وَذُو الرَّحِمِ الْمُحَرَّمُ أَوْلَى بِإِدْخَالِ الْمَرْأَةِ مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ، كَذَا فِي الْجَوْهَرَةِ النَّيِّرَةِ وَكَذَا ذُو الرَّحِمِ غَيْرُ الْمُحَرَّمِ أَوْلَى مِنْ الْأَجْنَبِيِّ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فَلَا بَأْسَ لِلْأَجَانِبِ وَضْعُهَا، كَذَا فِي الْبَحْرِ الرَّائِقِ، وَلَا يَدْخُلُ أَحَدٌ مِنْ النِّسَاءِ الْقَبْرَ، كَذَا فِي مُحِيطِ السَّرَخْسِيِّ  (الفتاوي الهندية ص166 ج1)

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 28 Safar 1444 / 25 September 2022