I have often heard from people that when a woman dies, it is no longer permissible for her husband to look at her or to place her in the grave. Is this correct? A – The Shariah evidences indicate that there is no harm in a husband washing his wife's body or for him to look at it. There is also no harm in a wife washing her husband's body or looking at it. In fact, Asma Bint Umays washed the body of her husband, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq. And Fatimah willed that she be washed by her husband Ali (may Allah be pleased with them all). – Sheikh Bin Baz; Fatawa Al-Mar'ah Selling cigarettes Q- I sell cigarettes. Is this permissible knowing that I myself do not smoke cigarettes? Also, youth gather in my shop and watch soccer matches and soap operas and (as a result) they miss their Salah. Is it permissible for me to have TV under such circumstances? My shop is about 200 meters away from the mosque, so I pray inside my shop and leave the congregational prayer. A – Cigarettes are evil and harmful. It is not permissible to smoke them or sell them, because if Allah has made something Haraam then its trade is also Haraam. So, it is obligatory upon you to repent and sell only permissible things. There are many blessings in this (type of trade). One who leaves something for the Sake of Allah, (then) Allah compensates him with (something) better than it. It is also not permissible to allow the youth gather (in your shop) and leave the Salah. It is obligatory that you close the shop and go along with them to the mosque. Allah says: “O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does that, then they are the losers.” (Qur'an, 63:9) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever hears the call (to prayer) and does not respond (to it) then there is no prayer for him (if he prays in a place other than the masjid) except for a (valid) reason.” Ibn Abbas was asked, “What is the (valid) reason?” He said: “Fear and illness.” A blind man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), “O Messenger of Allah! I do not have a guide to guide me to the mosque, so is there permission for me to pray in my house?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Do you hear the call for prayers?” The man replied, “Yes.” He (peace be upon him) said, “Then respond (to it).” (Sahih Muslim) – Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Fatwa; Fatawa, vol. 13, p. 63, no. 16502 __
