Rulings for a woman whose husband has died regarding the waiting period and watching television

Question:
May Allah reward you. The questioner asks: What is permissible and what is forbidden for a woman whose husband has died, in terms of speech, action, and looking? Is watching men on television forbidden in all cases? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The woman whose husband has died: Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: She is required to observe the waiting period for widowhood, which is four months and ten days in the case of a free woman. In the case of a free woman, and in the case of a slave woman, it is two months and five days for the soul. During the waiting period, she must avoid certain things known as *ihsad* (mourning). First, she must avoid all types of perfume, whether on her clothing or on her body; she must avoid perfume. Second, she must avoid adornment.
Adornment of the body with henna, makeup, kohl, and the like; adornment of the jewelry she wears; and adornment of clothing. There are three types: adornment of the body, adornment of jewelry, and adornment of clothing. The woman in mourning avoids these until she completes her waiting period. She also avoids leaving the marital home where her husband died, the home where he died and which is the husband's property. She remains in it unless she is moved out and expelled from it, as long as she is enabled to stay in it, so that she stays. This is based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) to the woman whose husband died: "Stay in your house" . There is no objection to her speaking to men in words that contain no desire, lust, flirtation, or what they call coquetry. She speaks to them out of necessity; she talks to them out of necessity, asking them and they ask her about matters they need. There is no objection to her hearing their voices and answering them, and them hearing her voice, out of necessity. There is no objection. She avoids, and this is not specific to the woman in mourning; she avoids speech that incites those with lustful desires, . This is general for all women, during the waiting period and otherwise: that she avoids speech that incites those with lustful desires. As for her watching television, I do not advise her to do so, even if she were not in mourning, because of the images in it and the programs in it, many of which are not desirable. If her intention is to benefit, that is available on the Quran Radio. Praise be to Allah. The programs on the Quran Radio suffice the Muslim. She listens to the Quran Radio, which operates for most of the night and day, taking up much time in good and benefit. Yes.