Question: If a husband dies leaving behind a pregnant wife, and she gives birth before he is washed, may she wash him?

Answer: She may not, because she has become irrevocably separated from him: her waiting period ends upon delivery before he is washed, and she thus becomes unrelated to him.

The same applies to a master and his concubine. A man or a woman may wash only a child under seven years of age. If a man dies among women, or the reverse occurs, the deceased is given dry ablution, as in the case of an indeterminate intersex person.

His statement, “The same applies to a master and his concubine,” means with his female slave, even if she is not his concubine. Thus, if she is his slave but he has not taken her as a concubine—that is, he has not had intercourse with her—and then he dies, she may wash him, and he may wash her.

His statement, “A man or a woman may wash only a child under seven years of age,” means whether the child is male or female.

The evidence for this is that Ibrahim, the son of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was washed by women (1), because he died while still nursing, that is, before he was weaned. Furthermore, the nakedness of a child under seven carries no legal ruling. Thus, if a girl under seven years old dies, her father may wash her; and if a boy under seven years old dies, his mother may wash him. But if a girl aged seven or older dies, her father may not wash her, because a man may not wash a woman, nor may a woman wash a man, except in the case of spouses or a master and his female slave.

His statement, “If a man dies among women,” means: if a man dies among women—and likewise if a boy aged seven or older dies among them—they may not wash him unless his wife or female slave is among them. If his wife or female slave is among them, she may wash him.