Ruling on one of the spouses washing the other after death

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly:

It is permissible for a man to wash his wife, and for a woman
to wash her husband, even if the woman is observing ‘iddah following a
revocable talaaq (divorce), as stated previously in the answer to question
no. 154381

The fact that it is permissible for a man to wash his wife is
indicated by the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who
said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came
back from a funeral in al-Baqee‘ and I had a headache and was saying, Oh my
head. He said, “Rather, I should say, Oh my head. It will not matter if you
die before me, for I will wash you and shroud you, then I will offer the
funeral prayer for you and bury you.”

Narrated by Ahmad, 25380; Ibn Maajah, 1456; classed as saheeh
by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah, 1/247

It was narrated from Asma’ bint ‘Umays (may Allah be pleased
with her) that Faatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) left instructions
that ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) should wash her.

Narrated by ash-Shaafa‘i, 1/312; ad-Daaraqutni, 2/79;
al-Nayhaqi, 3/396. Its isnaad was classed as hasan by ash-Shawkaani in
Nayl al-Awtaar, 4/35

Ash-Shawkaani said: The words of the Prophet (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him), “for I will wash you”, indicate that a wife may
be washed by her husband if she dies.

End quote from Nayl al-Awtaar, 4/35

As-San‘aani (may Allah have mercy on him) said concerning the
hadeeth of Asma’ (may Allah be pleased with her): This indicates that this
was something that was well-known during the life of the Prophet (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him).

End quote from Subul as-Salaam, 1/478

This is also the view of the majority of scholars (may Allah
have mercy on them).

An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: With regard to
washing his wife, it is permissible in our opinion and according to the
majority of scholars. This was narrated by Ibn al-Mundhir from ‘Alqamah,
Jaabir ibn Zayd, ‘Abd ar-Rahmaan ibn al-Aswad,… Maalik, al-Awzaa‘i, Ahmad
and Ishaaq. It is also the view of ‘Ata’, Dawood and Ibn al-Mundhir. Abu
Haneefah and ath-Thawri stated that he cannot wash her; this was also
narrated from al-Awzaa‘i. They quoted as evidence the fact that the marriage
has ended (with the death of one of the spouses), so it is akin to a
complete and irrevocable divorce.

End quote from Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, 5/122

In Majmoo‘ Fataawa ash-Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have
mercy on him), 13/109, it says:

Some of the fuqaha’ were of the view that the marital
relationship comes to an end with death; what is your view on this issue?

He replied:

This is a view that is contrary to the Sunnah, so no
attention should be paid to it. End quote.

With regard to a woman washing her husband, this is supported
by the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: If I
had known beforehand what I know now, no one would have washed the Messenger
of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) but his wives.

Narrated by Abu Dawood, 3141; classed as saheeh by Shaykh
al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on him) in Ahkaam al-Janaa’iz, 1/49

An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Ibn al-Mundhir
narrated in his two books, al-Ishraaf and Kitaab al-Ijmaa‘,
that the ummah is unanimously agreed that a woman may wash her husband.
Others also narrated that there is consensus on this point.

End quote from Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, 5/114.

And Allah knows best.