Did Hazrat ‘Ali ﵁ wash Hazrat Fatima ﵂?

Question

Is this narration authentic — that Hazrat ‘Ali ﵁ washed Lady Fatima ﵂ after her death? If he did wash her, was there some special reason, or is it a general ruling, or was it that, by virtue of the marriage, their bond had not been severed until the Day of Resurrection?

Answer

Firstly, there is criticism (kalam) regarding this narration; secondly, it is to be understood in the sense of arranging and overseeing [the washing]; thirdly, this was a distinction specific to [his] position, which Hazrat ‘Ali ﵁ declared in reply to the objection of ‘Abd Allah ibn Mas‘ud ﵁. Thus it is in “Radd al-Muhtar”.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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