´It was narrated that 'Amr bin 'As said:` "Do not corrupt the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The waiting period of an Umm Walad is four months and ten (days)."
1؎: Umm Walad is the slave woman who gives birth to her master's child. From this hadith, it is understood that when the husband of an Umm Walad passes away, her waiting period (‘iddah) is four months and ten days. In other words, in the matter of ‘iddah, she is like a free woman, and there is no difference between the two.
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues: ➊ "Umm Walad" refers to a slave woman from whom her master has children.
➋ Regarding Umm Walad, the statement of Umar radi Allahu anhu is: “A slave woman who bears a child from her master should neither be sold, nor gifted, nor passed on to anyone as inheritance. (During his lifetime) he may benefit from her, but when he dies, that woman is free.” (Muwatta Imam Malik, Al-'Itq wal-Wala', Chapter: The Emancipation of Ummhat al-Awlad......, 2/291)
➌ Since Umm Walad becomes free due to the death of her master, her waiting period ('iddah) is that of a free woman. There is a difference of opinion regarding the 'iddah of Umm Walad; see: (Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah: 11/262, 264)
➍ According to some, this narration is authentic.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 2083
Narrated 'Amr bin al-'Aas (RA): "Do not confuse us about our Prophet's Sunnah: The period that a slave-woman, whose master dies, and she has begotten a child from him must wait for, is four months and ten days." [Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah. al-Hakim graded it Sahih (authentic), but ad-Daraqutni considered it defective due to Inqita' (broken link)].
Explanation: ➊ In this narration, the waiting period (‘iddah) of an umm walad is mentioned, but this narration is disconnected (munqati‘), because Qabisah bin Dhu’ayb narrates from ‘Amr bin al-‘As radi Allahu anhu, and his having heard from ‘Amr radi Allahu anhu is not established.
➋ Imam Awza‘i and the literalists (Ahl al-Zahir) say that the waiting period (‘iddah) of an umm walad is four months and ten days, but according to Imam Shafi‘i, Imam Ahmad, and Malik rahimahum Allah, her waiting period is one menstrual cycle (hayd). According to Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah, the waiting period is three menstrual cycles (hayd). Imam Shafi‘i rahimahullah and others say that her waiting period is only one menstrual cycle because she is neither a wife nor a divorcee. She only requires istibra’ al-rahm (verification of womb’s emptiness), and that is fulfilled by a single menstrual cycle.
➌ Some researchers have also declared this hadith to be authentic (sahih).
Source: Bulugh al-Maram: Commentary by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Page: 954