Ibn Majah

Benefits and Issues:

➊
If a necessity arises for which it is essential for a woman to leave the house, then even during her waiting period (‘iddah), she may go out.

➋
If Jabir’s (radi Allahu anhu) aunt had not arranged for the fruit of the orchard to be harvested, the fruit would have been wasted. Therefore, in order to prevent the crop from being ruined, she had to leave the house.

➌
Some scholars have interpreted the righteous deed here as the payment of obligatory zakat, meaning: when the fruit comes home, you will give zakat and give charity, by which you will receive reward and the poor will benefit. Also, the remaining dates will suffice for you for the whole year. Therefore, this is a reasonable cause for leaving the house.

➍
One should not go out for minor tasks, because such tasks are not of such necessity that would justify leaving the house.

If there is a need, a woman in mourning (iddah) may work in the house and in the fields. It is possible that there may be no one else to do the work. The Shari‘ah takes great consideration of people’s needs and necessities.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: According to the four Imams (a’immah arba‘ah) and the majority of scholars, during the waiting period (‘iddah) of widowhood, a woman may leave her house during the daytime. In the waiting period of divorce (‘iddah of talaq) as well, according to the three Imams—Malik rahimahullah, Shafi‘i rahimahullah, Ahmad rahimahullah—and some other jurists, a woman may leave her house out of necessity, as is established from this hadith. However, according to Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah, she may not leave, because the command of the Noble Qur’an is:
﴿وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ﴾ “They should not go out,” although here, “going out” refers to leaving the husband’s house permanently. Furthermore, in the waiting period of widowhood, the Hanafis permit going out because the wife’s maintenance (nafaqah) is not the husband’s responsibility. Therefore, she may go out during the day in search of maintenance. Similarly, in the case of an irrevocable divorce (talaq bain), maintenance is also not the husband’s responsibility. This is established from the hadith of Fatimah radi Allahu anha, and this is also the position of the three Imams.

Benefits and Issues:
A divorced woman may go outside her home during her waiting period (‘iddah) for any necessary and appropriate task, but it is essential that she returns to her home at night.