The waiting period of a woman whose husband has died, and what is obligatory upon her

Question:
Sister Kheira says: Her husband passed away several months ago. She has daughters and grown-up sons who are married. Her legal excuse has ended. How long is her waiting period? Knowing that she is sixty years old?

Answer:
Her waiting period is like that of any other woman: four months and ten days. This is because Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [al-Baqarah: 234]. This is a general ruling for the woman who menstruates, for the young woman, and for the elderly woman; it encompasses everyone. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [al-Baqarah: 234]. "Wives" here means "wives." So the wife must wait four months and ten days, whether she is elderly, or a young woman who menstruates, or one who does not menstruate. She must observe the waiting period of four months and ten days, meaning one hundred and thirty days, absolutely, even if she menstruates. It is obligatory upon her to observe the aforementioned waiting period, four months and ten days, as Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said .
Likewise, it was reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that a woman whose husband has died must observe a waiting period of four months and ten days, as explicitly stated in the Noble Qur'an. And upon her during this waiting period is also the state of ihdad. Ihdad means avoiding adornment in clothing and the like. She does not wear beautiful clothes, she does not apply kohl, she does not use perfume, and she does not wear jewelry of gold, silver, or diamonds, nor beautiful clothes, until she completes the waiting period.
In summary: She must observe five matters. The woman observing a waiting period due to death must observe five matters:
First: She remains in her husband's house; the one in which she was residing when he died. She stays there until she completes the waiting period, if that is feasible, if it is possible. However, if it is not possible—because he had rented it and the lease has ended, or because she feels lonely and has no one to live with—she goes to her relatives. There is no harm in her going out when there is a need for a doctor, or to the court if there is a dispute, or for her own needs. There is no harm, and she returns to her house.
The second matter: She wears ordinary clothes that have no beauty or temptation in them. Black, green, or otherwise. She is not restricted to black; green or yellow is fine, as long as it is not beautiful.
Third: No perfume, neither incense nor other perfumes, except if she becomes pure from menstruation. If she menstruates, when she becomes pure from her menstruation, there is no harm in her using incense when she is pure from her menstruation.
Fourth: No jewelry. No gold, no silver, no diamonds. No bracelets, no necklaces, no rings. She avoids this until it ends.
Fifth: No kohl and no henna until she finishes the waiting period.
These are five matters that the woman observing a waiting period due to death must observe. As for the other matters, she is like the rest of people. She may change her clothes whenever she wishes. She may take a full ritual bath whenever she wishes. She may wash, meaning: her head with shampoo, with suds, there is no harm. She may walk in the garden of her house, on the roof of her house, in the open air, or not in the open air. She may walk in slippers, in leather socks, or without leather socks. She may walk barefoot, there is no harm.
She may talk on the telephone to whoever she needs to talk to, or to a man or a woman, if the conversation is permissible. There is no harm in her talking on the telephone to someone who calls her, if his speech is permissible. As for flirting with young men, or with non-mahram men, this is not permissible. It is forbidden for everyone, whether observing a waiting period or not. However, if he talks to her to ask her about something, or to console her, or to make a supplication for her, or to ask her about a need; there is no harm in that, even if he is not a mahram, if the speech is decent, if there is nothing forbidden in it. Or if he greets her, or for other needs. Or if she calls someone, her brother, her father, or another person, to ask him about something, about a need, there is no harm in this. May Allah guide them all.

The presenter : O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good.