Rulings Concerning the Woman Whose Husband Has Died

Question:
A woman in the waiting period asks: Is it permissible for her to answer those who knock on the door, as well as the telephone, and to watch television?

Answer:
Yes, yes. The woman in the waiting period may respond verbally to the door and speak on the telephone with whoever calls; there is no blame on her in that, just like other women, provided the conversation contains no suspicion. She answers them and speaks with them. If someone knocks on the door, she asks, "Who is it?" If the telephone rings, she asks, "Who is it?" She asks what they want. If she knows the person, she asks about his condition and his children, and the like. So, the woman in the waiting period observes five matters—the one whose husband has died, meaning:

The first matter: She remains in her husband’s house in which he died, and she is residing in it, because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded her to remain in the house except for a valid excuse, such as the house collapsing, or it being rented out and the landlord refusing to rent it to her, or she has no one to keep her company and she fears for her safety, in which case she goes to her relatives. But as long as the house... has someone to keep her company, and it is sound, she remains in the house until the waiting period ends. She may go out for a need, such as going to the doctor, or going to buy something from the market, and the like of needs for which she goes out.

The second matter: She does not wear beautiful clothes; she wears clothes that are not beautiful, because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited the saffron-colored garment and beautiful clothes. She wears clothes that are not beautiful, such as black, green, blue, or the like, that are not beautiful.

The third matter: She does not use perfume. Perfumes are not used except if she is menstruating—young and menstruating—if she is purified from menstruation, she may use some incense.

The fourth: Jewelry; she does not wear jewelry, no bracelets, no necklaces, no rings. She leaves off the jewelry; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited it.

The fifth: She does not apply kohl, and she does not apply henna—she does not put henna—because it is adornment. So she does not kohl her eyes, and she does not apply henna to her hands, and the like; because it is part of adornment. And so with makeup and the like, she leaves this thing.
These are five matters that the woman in the waiting period avoids.
And as for the rest, she is like people: she listens to the radio, such as the beneficial Quran radio, the Quran radio, "Nur 'ala al-Darb." It is recommended for everyone to listen to the Quran radio and "Nur 'ala al-Darb"; because it is beneficial. As for television, there is danger in it; avoiding it is better and safer. But if one hears something good, meaning the Quran radio, he hears it, or a beneficial seminar, or hears important news; then it does not harm him. But he turns off what he has of songs, entertainment, and harmful series; he does not listen to them, nor look at them; he turns them off.