What is the concept of the waiting period in Islam for a woman whose husband has passed away? Is it correct that she must not leave the house at all and must not see any man?
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The questioner : What is the concept of the waiting period in Islam for a woman whose husband has passed away? Is it correct that she must not leave the house at all and must not see any man until the end of the waiting period, which is four months and ten days? Please note that I am employed and I have children. I ask the honorable Shaykh for an answer.
The Shaykh : The waiting period for a widow is not, as the questioner stated, four months and ten days; rather, it is either four months and ten days, or the delivery of the child if she is pregnant. If a woman’s husband dies and she is pregnant, her waiting period ends with the delivery of the child, even if she gives birth minutes after his death. This is due to the generality of the saying of Allah the Exalted:[At-Talaq 65:4] And because Subay’ah al-Aslamiyyah gave birth a few nights after her husband’s death, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted her to marry. And the woman...
It is obligatory for a woman whose husband has died to observe the mourning period (Ihdad). Ihdad is:
First: She must stay in the house and not go out, neither at night nor during the day, except when dire necessity requires it at night, or when a pressing need requires it during the day. An example of a pressing need during the day is if she is a teacher and is not granted leave during the waiting period, and if staying in her house leads to her dismissal from teaching and the disruption of her livelihood and that of her children. In this case, it is a pressing need, and there is no blame on her for going to school during the day in this situation and then returning.
Second: It is obligatory for the woman in mourning to avoid all types of adornment in clothing. She must not wear jewelry or beautiful clothes that are considered adornment and beautification. However, there is no blame on her for wearing work clothes or a regular suit. She must not wear jewelry on her hand, foot, ear, or neck. She must not use beautifying agents such as kohl, reddening the lips, or the like. She must not use perfume in any of its forms, whether oil or incense, except when she purifies herself from menstruation; in that case, she purifies the place with something of perfume, such as incense, to remove the bad smell. I mean by "the place" the place of menstruation. As for speaking with men, there is nothing wrong with it. Likewise, speaking with them on the telephone is not wrong. Likewise, seeing men is not wrong. However, she must not uncover herself before men, just as other women do not. In terms of speaking with men and seeing men, she is like other women.
The Shaykh : The waiting period for a widow is not, as the questioner stated, four months and ten days; rather, it is either four months and ten days, or the delivery of the child if she is pregnant. If a woman’s husband dies and she is pregnant, her waiting period ends with the delivery of the child, even if she gives birth minutes after his death. This is due to the generality of the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth
وأولات الأحمال أجلهن أن يضعن حملهنIt is obligatory for a woman whose husband has died to observe the mourning period (Ihdad). Ihdad is:
First: She must stay in the house and not go out, neither at night nor during the day, except when dire necessity requires it at night, or when a pressing need requires it during the day. An example of a pressing need during the day is if she is a teacher and is not granted leave during the waiting period, and if staying in her house leads to her dismissal from teaching and the disruption of her livelihood and that of her children. In this case, it is a pressing need, and there is no blame on her for going to school during the day in this situation and then returning.
Second: It is obligatory for the woman in mourning to avoid all types of adornment in clothing. She must not wear jewelry or beautiful clothes that are considered adornment and beautification. However, there is no blame on her for wearing work clothes or a regular suit. She must not wear jewelry on her hand, foot, ear, or neck. She must not use beautifying agents such as kohl, reddening the lips, or the like. She must not use perfume in any of its forms, whether oil or incense, except when she purifies herself from menstruation; in that case, she purifies the place with something of perfume, such as incense, to remove the bad smell. I mean by "the place" the place of menstruation. As for speaking with men, there is nothing wrong with it. Likewise, speaking with them on the telephone is not wrong. Likewise, seeing men is not wrong. However, she must not uncover herself before men, just as other women do not. In terms of speaking with men and seeing men, she is like other women.