Q: After my wife gave birth to a male child, she underwent an operation to insert an intrauterine device (IUD) to prevent pregnancy. (Part No. 19; Page No. 312) This is because the boy refused bottle-feeding and depended solely on breast milk for nourishment. In other words, we resorted to this birth control method to allow for a longer period for the child's full growth fearing that he might be negatively affected by abstention from bottle-feeding. The IUD was put with our mutual consent and we intended to remove it after the breastfeeding period was over. Later on, my wife died of heart failure when I was at work. I buried her (may Allah be merciful to her), having forgotten to remove the IUD as I was deeply shocked by the incident and only remembered one month later. Fearing Allah, I hope you give me a Fatwa in this regard. Are any of us, speaking about myself in particular, sinful? I am willing to do anything to ensure that Allah is pleased with her, because she was a righteous, religious wife. May Allah grant you success.