Is it permissible for a husband to wash his deceased wife, and likewise for a wife to wash her deceased husband?

It is permissible for a man to wash his wife, and likewise, it is permissible for a woman to wash her husband, even if the woman is in the waiting period ('iddah) of a revocable divorce. The permissibility of a man washing his wife is supported by the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): "What would harm you if you died before me, and I washed you, shrouded you, then prayed over you and buried you?" and by the fact that Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) requested that Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) wash her. The majority of scholars hold this view. As for a woman washing her husband, it is supported by the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): "If I had known earlier what I learned later, no one would have washed the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) but his wives." Scholars have unanimously agreed that a woman may wash her husband.