Is it permissible for a mother to travel to perform Umrah before completing her waiting period (iddah), with about ten days remaining of the iddah, knowing that she is 72 years old and will be traveling accompanied by her daughters and grandchildren?

The fundamental principle is that a woman in iddah (waiting period) must remain in her home and not leave it except for a valid excuse. The inability to retrieve Umrah expenses, or the fact that only ten days remain until the end of the iddah, or the elderly age of the woman in iddah are not considered valid excuses that permit her to leave and travel for Umrah.

The majority of jurists have mandated that a widow observe her iddah in her home, citing as evidence the hadith of Furay'ah bint Malik bin Sinan, may Allah be pleased with her, in which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded her to remain in her house until the end of her prescribed period.

It is not permissible for a woman in iddah to travel for Hajj or Umrah. As for the excuses that permit a woman in iddah to leave her home, they are necessity or a valid excuse, such as fearing for her life or property from demolition, fire, or drowning, or if the house is not secure and there is fear of thieves, or severe harm from neighbors.