Is there any sin on a wife whose husband has passed away if she leaves the marital home after his death and completes her 'iddah (waiting period) in her family's home due to problems with her husband's family?
A woman must observe her 'iddah (waiting period) for the death of her husband in the house where she resides, as indicated by the hadith of Furay'ah bint Malik and the sayings of the four imams.
However, certain excuses permit the woman in 'iddah to leave or be removed from the house. These include: if she commits a clear indecency, which encompasses abusive language and harm; if the household is harmed by her; if she is harmed by her husband's family; if the house is unsafe, such as being isolated and desolate; if there is a fear of the house collapsing, flooding, or catching fire; if the house is not secure; if she is among immoral people; if she suffers severe harm from her in-laws or neighbors; or if her neighbors move away and she feels lonely. In these cases, it is permissible for her to move to her family's home to complete her 'iddah.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/29543