Q 6: What is the evidence from Allah's Book and the Sunnah of His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) regarding the permissibility of a husband washing the body of his deceased wife or vice versa?

A 6: It is permissible for each of the spouses to wash the body of the other upon his/her death. (Part No. 7; Page No. 303) This is based on the following: 1) It was recorded by Imam Malik in his Al-Mutta' that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) made a will that upon his death he should be washed by his wife Asma'; 2) It was recorded by Imam Ahmad on the authority of `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: "If I had known beforehand about my affair what I found out later, none would have washed Allah's Messenger except his wives." Ibn Al-Mundhir narrated that `Aly (may Allah be pleased with him) washed his wife Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her); 4) Sa`id narrated that both Jabir and `Abdul-Rahman ibn Al-Aswad asked their wives to wash them upon their death; 5) The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her): "If you were to die before me, I would wash you..." (Recorded by Ahmad and Ibn Majah and was ranked as a Sahih (authentic) Hadith by Ibn Hibban. Q 8: Upon leaving the body, does the soul of man ascend to heaven? In other words, where does the soul reside after leaving one's body?Also, is it the soul that is punished alone, or is it to be returned to one's body so that a sinner may be punished both physically and spiritually?Does the punishment in the grave continue until the Last Day, or is the punishment in the Barzakh (period between death and the Resurrection) temporary, thereafter the sinner is to be left without punishment until meeting his final reckoning on the Day of Resurrection? Is it that whenever Allah wills to punish him, He returns his soul into his body so that he is punished in his grave?What are the type of sins for which one is punished in his grave? If one is punished in his grave for a certain sin one committed in the worldly life, will he be punished again on the Last Day for the same sin, (Part No. 7; Page No. 304) or does the punishment he received in his grave lighten the punishment he deserves on the Last Day? Please explain the truth of these matters for us. May Allah grant you success!In summary, my question centers on the abode of the soul after one's death? What is the place wherein the souls settle? What are the evidences from the Qur'an and the Sunnah proving that there is punishment in the grave and explaining its manner? Please explicate this matter for us in as much detail as possible, may Allah reward you. People are so anxious to know the answer of the question about one's resting in the grave and the settlement of the soul in the Barzakh.They always wonder: Is it that once the soul leaves the body, one is subject to being questioned by the angels even if he is not buried in a grave, or does his questioning only commences after burial? I ask this question since one may die alone in a desert without there being anyone to shroud and bury him, or perhaps a person may fall a prey to wild animals like lions and tigers, etc, or one may drown in the sea and fall prey to the whales, or one may burn and become ashes? How are these people, who meet such a death, to be questioned and punished? Or are they neither questioned nor punished?Many times, we hear that a light or fire came out from such-and-such grave. Sometimes some people say: We heard the person buried in such-and-such grave crying out due to the severity of his punishment. This is according to their interpretation of the incident. What is the reality of all this in the light of Shari`ah (Islamic law)? Please explain the truth of this matter for us. May Allah grant you success! (Part No. 7; Page No. 305)  A 8: Upon leaving the body, the soul of a believer ascends to heaven and the most elect of each heaven will then see him to the next heaven, until the soul is brought to the seventh heaven, where Allah (Exalted be He) will command the angels: "Send it back to earth, for I have created it from earth, and into it the soul shall be returned, and from the earth I shall bring out all souls once again.'' The soul will then be joined with its body, and two angels will come to man, sit him up and ask him: "Who is your Lord?'' He will say: "Allah is my Lord.'' They will ask him: "What is your religion'' He will say: "My religion is Islam.'' They will ask him: "What do you say about this man (Prophet Muhammad) who was sent to you?'' He will say: "He is the Messenger of Allah.'' They will ask him: "And what proof do you have for it?'' He will say? "I read the Book of Allah (the Holy Qur'an), and had faith and belief in him.'' Then, a caller (in Allah's name) will herald from heaven: "My servant has said the truth. Therefore, furnish his grave from the furnishing of Paradise, and let him wear from (the clothes of) Paradise, and open a door for him to Paradise.'' So he is given from the tranquility and fragrance of Paradise, and his grave will be expanded for him as far as his sight can reach.Then, a man, with a handsome face and handsome clothes and whose scent is pleasant, will attend him, saying: "Rejoice in the glad tidings with that which pleases you. This is the Day which you were promised.'' The dead will then ask: "Who are you; for yours is the face that heralds the good news?'' The visitor will reply: "I am your good deeds.'' He will say: "O Lord! Hasten with the commencement of the Hour, so I can return to my family and my wealth.''As for the disbeliever, his soul ascends to the heavens whose gates will be closed before it and it will be returned to the earth. His soul will be returned back to his body, and two angels will come to him, sit him up and ask him: "Who is your Lord?'' He will say: "Oh, oh! I do not know.'' They will ask him: "What is your religion?'' and he will say: "Oh, oh! I do not know.'' They will ask him: "What do you say about this man (Prophet Muhammad) who was sent to you?'' He will say: "Oh, oh, I do not know!'' A caller (in Allah's name) will herald from heaven: "My servant has lied, so furnish his grave with (Part No. 7; Page No. 306) the furnishing of the Fire and open a door for him to the Fire.'' He will find its heat and fierce hot wind. And his grave will be tightened to him, until his bones crush each other. Then, a man with a dreadful face, wearing dreadful clothes and with a disgusting smell emitting from him will attend him, saying: "Receive the glad tidings with that which will displease you! This is the Day that you were promised.'' The dead will then ask: "And who are you, for yours is the face that brings about evil?'' He will say: "I am your evil deeds.'' He will therefore cry out: "O, my Lord! Do not commence the Hour!'' (Recorded by Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa'y as well as others).It was authentically reported from the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that the souls of the believers wander wherever they wish in Paradise in the form of birds that rest on the trees of Paradise until they return to their bodies on the Last Day. As for the souls of the martyrs, they live in the bodies of green birds who wander wherever they wish in Paradise and then return to their nests in chandeliers beneath the Throne. With regard to the punishment and blessings in one's grave, this is true as proven by the Hadith mentioned above as well as other Sahih (authentic) Hadiths. About the people of Pharaoh, Allah (Exalted be He) says: The Fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon. And on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels): "Cause Fir‘aun’s (Pharaoh) people to enter the severest torment!" The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ordered that after Tashahhud (testification recited in the sitting position in the second/ last unit of Prayer) Muslims should seek Allah's refuge from the punishment in the grave, where he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: When one of you utters tashahhud (in prayer) he should seek refuge with Allah from four (trials) and should thus implore Allah saying: "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the torment of the Hell, from the torment of the grave, from the trial of life (Part No. 7; Page No. 307) and death and from the evil of the trial of Al-Masih-ul-Dajjal (the Antichrist)." The punishment and blessings in the grave affect both the soul and body. Q 12: Is it an act of Sunnah that the pubic hair of a deceased person should be removed, whether it is a man or a woman, and should the same thing be done with their armpit hair? Or is it not permissible to remove this hair, even if it might be thick and dense, and so it should be left. I ask this question since I heard that it is a custom to shave the hair existing in the mentioned places of the body of the deceased. Please explain the truth of this matter for us. May Allah grant you success! A 12: It is obligatory to cover the `Awrah (parts of the body that must be covered in public) of human beings, whether they are alive or dead, male or female. It is not permissible to shave the pubic hair of a deceased person, since this requires uncovering their `Awrah, with no need for this. It is also not permissible to pluck the hair of a deceased's armpit, since there is no proof on this.May Allah grant us success. May Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions!