What must a wife do whose husband died before consummating the marriage, given that she learned about the obligation of the waiting period (iddah) two months after his death? Does she owe expiation, or does she complete the remaining months of the waiting period?

The waiting period (iddah) for widowhood differs from that for divorce. The waiting period for widowhood becomes binding upon the woman immediately upon the husband's death, even if consummation has not occurred, based on the Almighty's saying: "And those of you who die and leave wives behind, they shall wait on their souls for four months and ten [days]." As for the waiting period for divorce, it is only binding upon a woman whose marriage has been consummated, based on the Almighty's saying: "O you who have believed, when you marry believing women and then divorce them before you have touched them, then there is no waiting period for you to count against them."

If a woman neglected the waiting period due to ignorance, there is no blame upon her for what has passed. However, if she learns of it while still within the waiting period, she must complete the remaining duration.