Regulations on the Waiting Period for Widows
Scholars have established the necessity of a waiting period (iddah) for a woman whose husband has passed away, providing detailed rulings on the matter. The related regulations regarding a widow’s waiting period can be summarized as follows:
Duration of a Widow’s Waiting Period
Scholars have clarified aspects concerning the duration of a widow’s waiting period, which can be summarized as follows:
- When a woman’s husband dies, she must observe a waiting period of four months and ten days starting from the day of her husband’s death, unless she is pregnant. This is supported by the Quranic verse: “And those of you who die and leave behind wives, they [the wives] shall wait for four months and ten days.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 234).
- The rules governing the waiting period apply to all women, regardless of their age, whether or not the husband consummated the marriage, and irrespective of whether they have entered menopause. Hence, the waiting period for a widow is applicable to all women in diverse circumstances.
Waiting Period for Pregnant Widows
The previous waiting period regulations do not apply to a woman whose husband has died while she is pregnant. In this case, her waiting period and mourning end with the delivery of her child, even if the duration is brief. As stated in the Quran, “And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth.” (Surah At-Talaq, 4). However, if her husband passes away after the birth of her child, she is required to observe the waiting period.
Mourning: Meaning and Obligation for Widows
Scholars have outlined considerations related to mourning, highlighted as follows:
- During the entire duration of her waiting period, a widow is required to observe mourning as a sign of loyalty to her husband and to ensure the sanctity of her womb.
- The mourning for a woman whose husband has died entails abstaining from adornment with clothes, jewelry, and perfumes for the entirety of the waiting period. She is prohibited from sleeping outside her home; the place of waiting must be her marital residence where she lived before her husband’s demise. However, she is permitted to relocate in cases of necessity and may leave during the day for essential needs. A woman whose husband died after the marriage contract but before consummation should observe her waiting period at her family home since she did not move into her husband’s household yet.
- A widow is forbidden from marrying another man until her waiting period concludes.
- While a widow may fulfill her personal needs outside, contrary to popular belief among some, she is allowed to comb her hair, maintain cleanliness, and does not have to limit herself to wearing black. It is permissible for her to engage in necessary conversations with non-mahram men, answer phone calls, and conduct her daily life as long as she adheres to the previously mentioned conditions of mourning.