The Ruling on Wearing Black and Rulings on the Woman in Her Waiting Period Whose Husband Has Died

Question :

Is it necessary for a woman in her waiting period whose husband has died to wear black? Or is it permissible to wear any color. We have heard that the woman who is in mourning, especially the common people, wear black, sit on something black, pray upon something black, and that they hold beliefs for which Allah has revealed no authority. We request clarification for what is required of a woman whose husband has died, regarding clothing and other things.

Answer:

A woman whose husband has died is required to mourn throughout her waiting period. The waiting period is determined by time and circumstances. So if a widowed woman was menstruating (i.e. pre-menopausal) and was not pregnant, then her waiting period would be for four months and ten days from the death of her husband-whether she knew of his death immediately or she did not know of it until later. So the beginning of the waiting period is from the time of death. Therefore, if it happened that he died and she did not know of his death until after two months had passed, then nothing would remain of her waiting and mourning period except two months and ten days. So the waiting period of the menstruating woman is determined or fixed by time, and that is four months and ten days after his death.

As for the pregnant woman, her waiting period lasts until she delivers the child, whether the period is long or short. The waiting period might be an hour or two, or less, and it might be a year or two years, according to the Words of Allah, regarding the former:
"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."

And the Words of Him, Most High, regarding the latter:
"And for those who are pregnant (whether they are divorced or their husbands are dead), their 'Iddah (prescribed period) is until they lay down their burden."

It has been authentically reported in the Two Sahihs that Subai'ah Al-Aslamiyyah, may Allah be pleased with her, delivered some nights after the death of her husband, and the Messenger permitted her to marry. During the waiting period of death, it is necessary for the woman to mourn. Mourning consists of several things:

1. That she does not go out of the house, unless there is some pressing need.

2. That she does not beautify herself with clothing. She should not wear clothes which are considered decorative. But she may wear any clothing she wishes other than this: She may wear black, red, green or any other permissible color,

without restricting herself to black. 3. That she should not adorn herself with any kind of jewelry, whether it be bracelets, necklaces, ankle-bracelets or any- thing else. She must remove her jewelry; and if she is unable

to do so without cutting it off, then she must cut it off.

4. That she does not adorn herself with eye makeup or face makeup or lipstick, because it is not permissible for her to wear Kuhl, nor to redden her lips.

5. That she does not make herself attractive by wearing any kind of perfume, whether it be incense or oil, unless she has become purified from menstruation, then she may use perfume in the place where there is an offensive smell.

As for what some of the common people say, such as that she should not talk to anyone, that no one should see her, that she should not go out to the yard of the house, that she should not go out to the roof, that she should not face the moon, that she should not wash except on Friday, that she should not delay the prayer past the time of the Athan and that she should hasten to offer it as soon as the Athan is called all of these things have no foundation in the Islamic Law.

So a mourning woman talking to men is the same as a woman who is not mourning talking to men, and likewise her looking at men and men looking at her. It is the same as the case of a woman who is not mourning: She must cover her face so that it does not cause temptation and trial (Fitnah). And it is permissible for her to address a man, even if he is not a Mahram for her, if it does not cause Fitnah, and she may answer the telephone and the door of the house when there is a knock or other such things.