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:

This was my first visit to your site and I was really impressed by your answer to the various topic asked by different people.I would like to ask you a Question. My grandmother was 90 year old and my grandfather was 96 year old. After the death of my grandfather my granmother had to under go iddat. But the shock of the death of her husband was so much that she could not comprehend and she you can say lost her sense. In this case can iddat can be exempted on her or she has to go through iddah?

While answering please remember she is 90+ and insane. Waiting for your reply. Thanks

(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:

Does insane 90 year old have to sit iddah?

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

All Islamic laws, rites and commands like prayers, fasts, Hajj, etc. are ordained only for those who are sane. If one is insane, he/she is excused from following the laws of Islam for they shall have absolutely no accountability in the Just Court of Allah Subhanah.

Thus if the widow of the deceased is insane, she is excused from practicing the period of iddah; and if she became insane during the period of iddah, she is not required to complete the iddah period according to Shariah.

The period of iddah requires a believing woman to abstain from wearing new clothes, apply perfume or make-up, beautify herself, entertain proposals, etc. It would be expected that a woman of 90+ years would be least interested in the above things anyways.

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

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan