The Ruling on Ihdad for an Elderly Woman and Adornments That Are Difficult to Remove

Question:
Should the adornments be removed, even if doing so is difficult? And does ihdad include a woman who is advanced in age?

Answer:
Yes, ihdad encompasses young women and those advanced in age; all of them are required to observe ihdad. It applies to the woman with whom intercourse has taken place and to the one with whom it has not. If a man contracts marriage to a woman and dies before consummating the marriage, she is required to observe the waiting period (‘iddah) and ihdad as well. This is unlike divorce: if a divorced woman has not been consummated, she has no waiting period. However, if a woman’s husband dies after the marriage contract was made but before consummation, she must observe the waiting period and ihdad, and she is entitled to inheritance.
Therefore, the elderly woman and the young woman are equal in the obligation of the waiting period and ihdad. Likewise, regarding adornments: if she is wearing adornments, they must be removed, even if something like a bracelet remains and becomes tight on her hand; it should be cut and removed, and not left on her hand.