Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear brother Burhan assalamu alaykum

Below article could u pls. comments. So, please help me understand and my friends.  they have these queries

thanks n jazakallah

A sister

Comments from one of my friends:

Mourning for four months and ten days - woman can go out - just not wear makeup - how about socializing - especially with men - at work, neighbours, relatives Father /brother /cousin /brother in law/male friend). 

 
Husband died - Allah's will - doesn't mean a woman gives up her job/livelihood - she is still living - right - not dead?  As it is, woman is depressed - by locking her away from the world, is the torture not enhanced?  She can't give up her career, can she?

 
So more info. would be good.

 
Had heard that woman cannot see sky, cannot go out, cannot see other men??????  Is this true? 

If so, why.

 
I know woman is vulnerable after the grief, understandably, she should be careful not to be wooed by other men, but true for olden times when women did not interact with men.

 
Today, a woman is surrounded by men in day to day life - commute, work - it is hard to believe that if a woman goes out and interacts with other men, she should fear lest her feelings might stray- that too at such a crucial time.....

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Mourning period of widow

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 234:

234 If any of you die and leave widows behind they shall wait concerning themselves four months and ten days: when they have fulfilled their term there is no blame on you if they dispose of themselves in a just and reasonable manner. And Allah is well acquainted with what ye do.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 4.23

Umm 'Atiyyah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "A woman should not mourn for any deceased person for more than three days, except in the case of her husband's death, which she may mourn for a period of four months and ten days. Such a woman (in mourning) is not to wear any (brightly) colored dress. She may wear only plain dress. During this period she should not use any adornment or eye makeup, nor wear any perfume, nor dye her hands and feet with henna, nor adorn her hair, except at the end of her menstruation period, when she may use some cleaning or refreshing agents (such as perfume, etc.) to get rid of any offensive smell left over from her period." (Related by Bukhari and Muslim). Accordingly, when a widow mourns, she must not use any adornment, such as jewelry, kohl, silk, perfume, or henna dye on her hands and feet. A widow must observe this waiting period in deference to her late husband's memory and to fulfill her obligations toward him.

The primary wisdom of the prescribed period of ‘iddah’ in Islam is to determine whether the widow is pregnant and holding the unborn child of the deceased in her womb or not; and a secondary wisdom is also to allow the widow time to mourn the separation of the one she was bonded to in the sacred relationship of marriage. Islam guides that the widow manifest her solemn grief of the separation of one as close as a husband by not beautifying herself, nor adorning herself with brightly colored or new clothes, nor applying make-up, nor using perfumes, nor applying henna, etc. …..things she would normally do in happy or joyous times; for a period of four months and ten days.

The Statements: Mourning for four months and ten days - woman can go out - just not wear makeup - how about socializing - especially with men - at work, neighbours, relatives

(father/brother/cousin/brotherinlaw/male friend). 

The scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that there is no harm if a widow leaves her house during her mourning period of four months and ten days, provided there is an absolute genuine need….but she should neither adorn herself with beauty as she would during other times.

There is absolutely no harm if she casually meets with her mehram relatives like her father, brothers, uncles, sons, etc. as often as she wills and pleases; but she should abstain from casually meeting or inter-acting with non-mehram males unless and until there is an absolute genuine need.

The Statement: ….Husband died - Allah's will - doesn't mean a woman gives up her job/livelihood - she is still living - right - not dead?  As it is, woman is depressed - by locking her away from the world, is the torture not enhanced?  She can't give up her career, can she?

If there is none to provide for the woman and she has to work for her livelihood, the scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that there is no harm in the woman working to earn her livelihood, provided she does not adorn herself with beauty until the end of her mourning period, and keeps her interaction with non-mehram males to an absolute need and necessity.

The Question: ….Had heard that woman cannot see sky, cannot go out, cannot see other men???? Is this true?  If so, why.

There is absolutely no restriction in Shariah if the widow wishes to see the sky during her period of mourning; but she should not casually go out and/or meet with non-mehram men without an absolute genuine need or reason.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan