What is the ruling on non-mahram men entering the home of a woman who is in her waiting period after her husband's death, given that she is advanced in age?
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The questioner : He has another question. He says, "O honorable Shaykh, what is the ruling on non-mahram men entering the home of a woman who is in her waiting period after her husband's death, given that she is advanced in age?"
The Shaykh : Some of the general public believe that if a woman is in her waiting period due to the death of her husband, she must not speak to men, nor speak on the telephone, nor speak to the one who asks permission to enter the house, and so on. This is a mistake. A woman in her waiting period due to her husband's death is permitted to speak to men just as one who is not in a waiting period speaks to them, provided there is no religious concern regarding submission in speech that would cause one whose heart is diseased to harbor hope. She is also permitted to have non-mahram men come to her, provided they do not remain with her alone, and there is no blame in this. She is also permitted to go out to the roof of the house, to the courtyard, and to anywhere within the walls of the house, whether at night or during the day. On this occasion, I would like to clarify what a woman in her waiting period due to her husband's death must refrain from. First, she must avoid all clothing of adornment. Any clothing that is used for adornment, such that it is said, "This woman is adorned and beautified," is forbidden for a woman in her waiting period due to death to wear. She is permitted to wear what is not adornment, in any color, whether red, black, or yellow.
Second, she must avoid wearing jewelry. She does not wear jewelry on her ear, neck, arm, finger, or chest, because this contradicts the state of mourning.
Third, she must avoid perfume, whether on her head, body, or clothing, except if she has purified herself from menstruation, in which case she uses incense to remove the remaining odor after menstruation.
Fourth, she does not apply kohl of any kind, even if it is her custom to do so. If she lacks kohl and is affected to some degree, she still does not apply it. It is established in the authentic hadith that a woman came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him that her daughter had complained of an eye condition and was in her waiting period due to death. She said, "Should we apply kohl to her?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:.
Fifth, she does not beautify herself in any form of beautification, such as reddening the lips, makeup, and the like.
Sixth, she does not leave the house in which her husband died and in which she resides, under any circumstances, whether to visit a relative, to visit a sick person, to offer condolences for a deceased person, or otherwise, except out of need, such as if she needs to go to the hospital, or if she needs to buy food that is not in the house and no one is available to buy it for her, and the like, or out of dire necessity, such as if the house catches fire and she is forced to leave it.
As for the belief of some women that a woman in her waiting period must take a full ritual bath every Friday, this has no truth to it. It has no basis. It is not obligatory for a woman to take a full ritual bath every Friday, nor every month, nor every half month. She has the choice, except in cases of major ritual impurity or menstruation. Major ritual impurity for a woman in her waiting period is, for example, wet dreams.
Similarly, some people believe that she must pray as soon as she hears the call to prayer. This is also not correct. She is permitted to pray at the beginning of the time, in the middle of the time, or at the end of the time. However, it is well known that praying at the beginning of the time is better, except for the night prayer, in which case praying at the end of the time is better.
Similarly, some people believe that a woman does not go out to the roof if the moon is bright, nor to the courtyard if the moon is bright. This also has no basis. Rather, she goes out to the roof and to the courtyard of the house at all times.
Similarly, some people believe that she does not speak to non-mahram men, as I mentioned at the beginning of the answer. This also has no basis.
We have mentioned what is forbidden for a woman in her waiting period, which is six things. In everything else, she is like other women. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
O my beloved brothers, O you listening brothers.
The Shaykh : Some of the general public believe that if a woman is in her waiting period due to the death of her husband, she must not speak to men, nor speak on the telephone, nor speak to the one who asks permission to enter the house, and so on. This is a mistake. A woman in her waiting period due to her husband's death is permitted to speak to men just as one who is not in a waiting period speaks to them, provided there is no religious concern regarding submission in speech that would cause one whose heart is diseased to harbor hope. She is also permitted to have non-mahram men come to her, provided they do not remain with her alone, and there is no blame in this. She is also permitted to go out to the roof of the house, to the courtyard, and to anywhere within the walls of the house, whether at night or during the day. On this occasion, I would like to clarify what a woman in her waiting period due to her husband's death must refrain from. First, she must avoid all clothing of adornment. Any clothing that is used for adornment, such that it is said, "This woman is adorned and beautified," is forbidden for a woman in her waiting period due to death to wear. She is permitted to wear what is not adornment, in any color, whether red, black, or yellow.
Second, she must avoid wearing jewelry. She does not wear jewelry on her ear, neck, arm, finger, or chest, because this contradicts the state of mourning.
Third, she must avoid perfume, whether on her head, body, or clothing, except if she has purified herself from menstruation, in which case she uses incense to remove the remaining odor after menstruation.
Fourth, she does not apply kohl of any kind, even if it is her custom to do so. If she lacks kohl and is affected to some degree, she still does not apply it. It is established in the authentic hadith that a woman came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him that her daughter had complained of an eye condition and was in her waiting period due to death. She said, "Should we apply kohl to her?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
No.
لاFifth, she does not beautify herself in any form of beautification, such as reddening the lips, makeup, and the like.
Sixth, she does not leave the house in which her husband died and in which she resides, under any circumstances, whether to visit a relative, to visit a sick person, to offer condolences for a deceased person, or otherwise, except out of need, such as if she needs to go to the hospital, or if she needs to buy food that is not in the house and no one is available to buy it for her, and the like, or out of dire necessity, such as if the house catches fire and she is forced to leave it.
As for the belief of some women that a woman in her waiting period must take a full ritual bath every Friday, this has no truth to it. It has no basis. It is not obligatory for a woman to take a full ritual bath every Friday, nor every month, nor every half month. She has the choice, except in cases of major ritual impurity or menstruation. Major ritual impurity for a woman in her waiting period is, for example, wet dreams.
Similarly, some people believe that she must pray as soon as she hears the call to prayer. This is also not correct. She is permitted to pray at the beginning of the time, in the middle of the time, or at the end of the time. However, it is well known that praying at the beginning of the time is better, except for the night prayer, in which case praying at the end of the time is better.
Similarly, some people believe that a woman does not go out to the roof if the moon is bright, nor to the courtyard if the moon is bright. This also has no basis. Rather, she goes out to the roof and to the courtyard of the house at all times.
Similarly, some people believe that she does not speak to non-mahram men, as I mentioned at the beginning of the answer. This also has no basis.
We have mentioned what is forbidden for a woman in her waiting period, which is six things. In everything else, she is like other women. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
O my beloved brothers, O you listening brothers.