It is beyond doubt that the waiting period for a woman whose husband has died is four months and ten days, as stated in the Noble Qur'an. And upon the completion of the waiting period, he mentions now...
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The questioner : He says: It is beyond doubt that the waiting period for a woman whose husband has died is four months and ten days, as stated in the Noble Qur'an. And upon the completion of the waiting period, he mentions now an incident regarding those who do things that contradict the religion among them. He says: Upon the completion of the waiting period, on the eleventh night after the four months have passed, this woman goes out with some other women to one of the mosques. She carries a smoking censer, meaning good incense. After she performs two rak'ahs in the mosque, meaning that is what he intends, she goes out. She has several stones with her, which she throws, meaning she throws these stones into several paths. They say that whoever is hit by these stones will die, and so on. This is what happens. We ask for a detailed clarification of this. May Allah reward you?
The Shaykh : This is undoubtedly a religious innovation (bid'ah), and it is similar to what women used to do in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah). A woman used to throw a dung pellet on the head of the year. It is not permissible for a woman to do such an act. If the waiting period due to death ends, whether it is the four months and ten days, or if it is due to miscarriage if she was pregnant, the meaning of that is that the ruling of mourning (i'dad) has ended only. It does not mean that she is commanded to go out, or to do what this questioner mentioned, or to give charity with food she carries with her when she goes out for the first time and gives it to the first person she encounters. All of these are matters that are not from the Shari'ah. Rather, the meaning is that when the waiting period ends, what she was prohibited from before the end of the waiting period becomes permissible for her. It is permissible for her to take off her mourning clothes and wear whatever clothes she wishes, to use perfume, to wear jewelry, and to do what she was prohibited from doing during the state of mourning.
The questioner : This message is from...
The Shaykh : When we say "do it," it does not mean that we are asking her to do it, but rather that we are permitting her to do it.
The questioner : This message is from listener S.N.S. He says: To the supervisors of the program "Light on the Path" (Nur 'ala al-Darb), peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : This is undoubtedly a religious innovation (bid'ah), and it is similar to what women used to do in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah). A woman used to throw a dung pellet on the head of the year. It is not permissible for a woman to do such an act. If the waiting period due to death ends, whether it is the four months and ten days, or if it is due to miscarriage if she was pregnant, the meaning of that is that the ruling of mourning (i'dad) has ended only. It does not mean that she is commanded to go out, or to do what this questioner mentioned, or to give charity with food she carries with her when she goes out for the first time and gives it to the first person she encounters. All of these are matters that are not from the Shari'ah. Rather, the meaning is that when the waiting period ends, what she was prohibited from before the end of the waiting period becomes permissible for her. It is permissible for her to take off her mourning clothes and wear whatever clothes she wishes, to use perfume, to wear jewelry, and to do what she was prohibited from doing during the state of mourning.
The questioner : This message is from...
The Shaykh : When we say "do it," it does not mean that we are asking her to do it, but rather that we are permitting her to do it.
The questioner : This message is from listener S.N.S. He says: To the supervisors of the program "Light on the Path" (Nur 'ala al-Darb), peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.