There is no harm in the husband washing his wife's body

Question: I have often heard from the general public that when a wife dies, it is no longer permissible for her husband to look at her or to place her in the grave. Is this correct? Please respond, may Allaah bless you.

Response: The Sharee'ah evidences indicate that there is no harm in the husband washing his wife or for him to look at her. There is also no harm in her washing him or looking at him. In fact, Asmaa bint Umays washed her husband's body, Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq. And Faatimah willed that she be washed by her husband 'Alee.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz
Fataawa al-Mar.ah