Denounced Innovations in the Mourning Practices of Some in the Sudanese Community

Question: Mourning in our Sudanese community:
First: The widow in her waiting period must sleep on the floor for the entire prescribed duration.
Second: Facing the wall of the room.
Third: Refraining from speaking, especially at sunrise and sunset, for a period the women call "the time of the cradle."
Fourth: Refraining from bathing and washing clothes.
Is any of this part of the religion?
Given the large number of women who adhere to these practices, I ask the Shaykh to guide everyone.

Answer: None of this has any basis in the Shari'ah; it is a denounced religious innovation. It is obligatory to obey the command of Allah and His Messenger, to adhere to the pure Shari'ah, and to beware of innovations.
The pure Shari'ah indicates that the widow must remain in the house she was living in when her husband died for four months and ten days, if she is not pregnant, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted in Surat al-Baqarah: [al-Baqarah:234]. If she is pregnant, she remains in the waiting period until she gives birth, based on the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) in Surat al-Talaq: [al-Talaq:4].
It is obligatory for her to refrain from perfume, jewelry, beautiful clothes, kohl, and henna. These are the things the widow must avoid, as stated in the hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for what the questioner mentioned, that she sleeps on the floor and does not sit on a carpet, this has no basis and is a false religious innovation. Similarly, facing the wall is an innovation with no basis; she may face whatever she wishes, like other women. Likewise, refraining from speaking to people is an innovation with no basis. She may speak to whom she wishes regarding her needs, like other women: she may speak to her relatives, her children, her neighbors, and to anyone who asks permission to enter, provided the speech contains nothing forbidden. However, she must not be alone with any man who is not a mahram, like other women. As for speaking, there is no harm in speaking with her mahrams and others regarding her interests and affairs, in a manner free from suspicion.
Similarly, refraining from speaking during sunrise and sunset for the period they call "the time of the cradle" is an innovation with no basis. She is not required to remain silent at sunrise and sunset; rather, she may speak throughout the night and the day, with whatever remembrance of Allah or other things that Allah the Exalted has permitted.
These four things have no basis or foundation in the pure Shari'ah. Rather, the Muslim woman must avoid them and not submit to the innovations and superstitions that people have invented. She must adhere to what Allah the Exalted has prescribed: avoiding beautiful clothes, and refraining from perfume, jewelry, kohl, and henna, because these draw attention and cause men to desire her. Similarly, she must not apply kohl to her eyes or use henna, because this causes fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) regarding her. She should remain in her husband's house where she was living when he died, if that is feasible. If the house is ruined, or if it is rented and they do not allow them to rent it, or if she is alone and feels unsafe with no one there, she may move to her family's house. All of this is permissible. Similarly, leaving the house for a need, such as the hospital, the court, or the market to attend to her needs, is permissible.
As for refraining from bathing and washing clothes, that is an error with no basis. She may bathe whenever she wishes, at night or during the day, on any day, including Friday and other days. She may comb her hair whenever she wishes, without perfume. She may wash her clothes, whether her own or her children's. All of this is permissible. May Allah guide everyone to beneficial knowledge and to acting upon it.