Is it permissible for a woman to remain in her husband’s family home after his death, given the presence of his brothers and father, or must she return to her own family’s home?
A widow must observe her ' (waiting period) in the house where her husband died and where she was residing.
If this house is her husband's father's house, and her husband's brother is also there, then if the husband's brother is one of her maharim (unmarriageable kin), he may be alone with her.
However, if he is a non- (stranger), she is not permitted to remain in the house unless the Shariah conditions are met, such as her having a separate room, a private entrance and exit, and independent facilities.
If these conditions are not met and the non-mahram brother-in-law does not leave the house, the woman must move to a place where she feels safe, because the fear of fitnah (temptation/strife) allows a woman observing 'iddah to leave her home.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/145658
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 145658
- 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