May the husband lower the deceased woman into the grave?

Question

If a woman dies during her husband’s lifetime, does the deceased leave the bond of marriage or not? And is it correct that the man [then] has the status of a non-mahram, or not? Further, may the said husband lower the deceased into the grave when her actual mahrams, such as her father, brother, paternal uncle, son and so on, are present, or not?

Answer

With death the nikah comes to an end, [so the husband] may not touch [her]. Looking [at her], however, is permissible. When mahrams such as the father, brother and so on are present, they take precedence, and it is they who should lower [her] into the grave. It is also permissible for the husband to lower [her] and to touch the janaza.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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