Is a woman whose husband has passed away obligated to observe her 'iddah in the marital home, or is it permissible for her to move to the home of one of her children so that she does not remain alone, even if she is over eighty years old?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
A woman whose husband has died must not leave the house where she received the news of his death, whether she is old or not. The proof for this is the narration of Furay'ah bint Malik, when she asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, if she could return to her family. He said to her: "Stay in your house until the prescribed term is fulfilled." So, she observed her there for four months and ten days. As for her leaving for some of her needs and returning to her place of residence at night, this is permissible out of necessity.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/54301
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 54301
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy