Are Muslims permitted to wash or bury a deceased relative who was a non-Muslim?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Funerals
Primary text
Muslims must not wash a deceased non-Muslim, regardless of whether the deceased was a close relative or not, nor should they undertake the burial, unless no other person is found to inter the body. This is the position of Malik. The rationale is that since Muslims do not pray over the deceased non-Muslim, nor supplicate for them, they should not be responsible for washing them or managing their affairs, similar to a stranger.
Supporting text
Abu Hafs al-'Ukbari permitted washing and burying a relative who was a non-Muslim, and this is narrated as a position of Ahmad. It is also the view of the Shafi'i school, based on the narration where a man told the Prophet, peace be upon him, that his misguided uncle had died, and the Prophet commanded him, "Go and bury him."