If a woman does not learn of her husband's death until more than six months have passed, when does her waiting period begin?
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The questioner : The questioner says: If I did not learn of my husband's death until after a period of more than six months, when does my waiting period begin?
The Shaykh : The waiting period begins from the time of death, not from the time the woman learns of it. For example, if we assume he died on the first day of Muharram and she did not learn of it until the first day of Safar, the waiting period begins on the first day of Muharram. Accordingly, she observes a waiting period of three months and ten days, which completes the waiting period. If, however, her husband died while she was pregnant and she did not learn of his death until after she gave birth, the waiting period has ended. This happens often: the husband is traveling, he dies, and his wife is pregnant, but she does not learn of his death until after she has delivered. In that case, her waiting period has ended, and there is no need to repeat the waiting period.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The waiting period begins from the time of death, not from the time the woman learns of it. For example, if we assume he died on the first day of Muharram and she did not learn of it until the first day of Safar, the waiting period begins on the first day of Muharram. Accordingly, she observes a waiting period of three months and ten days, which completes the waiting period. If, however, her husband died while she was pregnant and she did not learn of his death until after she gave birth, the waiting period has ended. This happens often: the husband is traveling, he dies, and his wife is pregnant, but she does not learn of his death until after she has delivered. In that case, her waiting period has ended, and there is no need to repeat the waiting period.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.