Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

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One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam Alaikum!....

Can a widow Apply henna and upto where and why is that restricted and also pleasse provide me with the information about the colours that a widow is not allowed to wear--is it correct?/ 

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Answer:

Window idda henna and colors

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.

Although 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, 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.

Your Question: Can a widow Apply henna and upto where and why is that restricted and also pleasse provide me with the information about the colours that a widow is not allowed to wear--is it correct?/ 

The application of ‘henna’ and the wearing of bright colorful clothes is normally associated with joyous occasions. Islam has guided and commanded the believing widow to honor the memory of her husband and allowed her to mourn for a period of four months and ten days wherein she should abstain from adorning herself with anything which would enhance her beauty like the application of henna, or perfume, or bright colorful clothing, etc.

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