What is permissible for a woman to do and what is not permissible for her to do during her waiting period (iddah) after the death of her husband? Is it permissible for her to supplicate for him by his name or by the phrase "my husband"? Can she look at herself in the mirror, bathe, and use shampoo and scented soap?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The waiting period () for a woman whose husband has died is, if she is pregnant, until she delivers her entire pregnancy. If she is not pregnant, it is four months and ten days. It is forbidden for her to use anything that contains perfume. It is permissible for her to look in the mirror, bathe, and cleanse her body. There is nothing to prevent her from supplicating for her deceased husband by name. It is disliked for her to say "O my husband" if she intends the previous marital relationship.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/97278
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 97278
- 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