Who is the guardian (wali) of the funeral — the father or the husband?

Question

When a woman dies, from whom should permission for her funeral prayer be sought — from the husband, or from her father or brother? People say that the marital bond with the husband has ended, so the question of seeking [his] permission does not arise.

Answer

[ar]ثُمَّ الْوَلِيُّ بِتَرْتِيبِ عُصُوبَةِ النِّكَاحِ، إِلَّا الْأَبَ فَيُقَدَّمُ عَلَى الِابْنِ اتِّفَاقًا، إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ عَالِمًا وَالْأَبُ جَاهِلًا فَالِابْنُ أَوْلَى، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ وَلِيٌّ فَالزَّوْجُ ثُمَّ الْجِيرَانُ[/ar] “Then [the right belongs to] the guardian (wali) in the order of agnatic kinship (‘asaba)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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