What is the ruling on a woman whose husband has passed away?

The questioner : The issue of a woman observing the mourning period for her husband is mentioned in some books: she does not comb her hair, she does not apply oil, she does not go out... and so on. What is the Sunnah in this regard?

The Shaykh : As for the woman whose husband has passed away, she is prohibited from adornment. However, saying that she must not go out for her needs, that she must not let her voice be heard, and similar expressions, these have no basis in the Sunnah. There is excessive strictness in this.