Is a Muslim permitted to wash his deceased non-Muslim wife (Dhimmi)?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Funerals

Book 7 · Issue 2 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

A Muslim is not permitted to wash or undertake the burial rites for his deceased non-Muslim wife. This is because a Muslim is prohibited from performing ritual washing or burial responsibilities for a non-Muslim.

Supporting text

The permissibility of a Muslim washing a deceased non-Muslim may be argued for based on a contrary legal derivation (yatakharraju) concerning the permissibility of a Muslim washing a non-Muslim.