When does the 'iddah (waiting period) of a grandmother, whose husband passed away on July 17, 2020, end?
If the husband passes away, the 'iddah (waiting period) for a pregnant wife ends upon her giving birth to her entire حمل (fetus), as Allah says: "And for those who are pregnant, their term is that they deliver their burden." (Quran 65:4). As for the non-pregnant wife, her 'iddah is four months and ten days, as Allah says: "And those of you who die and leave wives behind them, they (the wives) shall wait (as regards their marriage) for four months and ten days." (Quran 2:234).
The 'iddah begins from the time of death and is calculated by lunar months. If the husband passed away on the 26th of Dhu al-Qi'dah, 1441 AH, then the 'iddah includes the remaining days of Dhu al-Qi'dah (four or five days), in addition to Muharram, Safar, Rabi' al-Awwal, and Rabi' al-Thani. It would then end on the fifth or sixth day of Jumada al-Ula. It is important to note that the 'iddah begins from the moment of the husband's death according to the majority of scholars. However, according to the Malikis, the day of death is not counted if the death occurred after dawn, and the 'iddah ends at the exact moment of death.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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