Is there a specific period of mourning that a husband must observe after his wife's death?
Ihdad (mourning) is the avoidance of adornment and perfume for a specific period, and it is exclusive to women. It is unanimously agreed that a wife whose husband has passed away must observe the iddah (waiting period) and ihdad. As for a man, there is no ihdad for him by consensus. The custom that prevents a man from marrying for a certain period after his wife's death is a pre-Islamic custom (Jahiliyyah) that has no basis in Islamic law.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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