Does a woman sin if she does not observe the prescribed waiting period, which is mourning for her husband, especially if this woman is elderly?
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The questioner : Does a woman sin if she does not observe the prescribed waiting period, which is mourning for her husband, especially if this woman is elderly? And what is the legal wisdom behind this waiting period?
The Shaykh : Yes, a woman sins if she neglects mourning, because she has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger. Furthermore, she has violated a right of the husband, because the waiting period is among the rights of the husband. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ahzab 33:49] This indicates that the waiting period is a right of the husband over the woman. Therefore, if a woman neglects mourning, she is disobedient to Allah and His Messenger and has violated her husband's right.
As for the wisdom behind it, it is respecting the right of the deceased for four months and ten days. The women of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance used to observe mourning for their husbands for a full year in the most ugly state, and they would boast about it. In fact, if a woman went out after a year, she would take a piece of dung and throw it, indicating that this period with this hardship was easier for her than throwing this dung. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you and bless you.
The Shaykh : Yes, a woman sins if she neglects mourning, because she has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger. Furthermore, she has violated a right of the husband, because the waiting period is among the rights of the husband. Allah the Exalted said:
O You who have believed, when you marry believing women and then divorce them before you have touched them, then there is not for you any waiting period to count concerning them
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا إِذا نَكَحتُمُ المُؤمِناتِ ثُمَّ طَلَّقتُموهُنَّ مِن قَبلِ أَن تَمَسّوهُنَّ فَما لَكُم عَلَيهِنَّ مِن عِدَّةٍ تَعتَدّونَهاAs for the wisdom behind it, it is respecting the right of the deceased for four months and ten days. The women of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance used to observe mourning for their husbands for a full year in the most ugly state, and they would boast about it. In fact, if a woman went out after a year, she would take a piece of dung and throw it, indicating that this period with this hardship was easier for her than throwing this dung. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you and bless you.