Is the waiting period (iddah) waived for an elderly woman who is unable to care for herself, and is it permissible for her to move between her sons' and daughters' homes to observe the waiting period?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
A woman whose husband has died must observe her ' (waiting period) in the house where her husband died while she was in it. She is not permitted to abandon the 'iddah due to old age. She may go out during the day for a need, and at any time if there is a necessity.
If she is ill, her children should take turns caring for her, or she can hire someone to nurse her. If she is unable to do any of that and is forced to go to one of her children's homes for care, then there is no blame upon her for that, to the extent of the 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/162691
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 162691
- 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