What is the waiting period (iddah) for a woman, and is it permissible for her to leave the house to visit her daughters and entertain herself in private resorts, especially since she is elderly and all her children are married?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
A woman observing ' (waiting period) is permitted to leave her home for a necessary need, provided she maintains modesty and avoids suspicious situations. However, she is not allowed to spend the night outside her home or go out at night except in cases of necessity. Regarding the 'iddah itself: if the woman is elderly and has ceased menstruating, her 'iddah is three months. If she is still menstruating, her 'iddah is three menstrual cycles. As for a woman whose husband has passed away, her 'iddah is four months and ten days.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/50100
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 50100
- 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