What Forms of Adornment Should a Widow Avoid During Her Waiting Period?

Hazrat Umm Atiyyah says that a woman whose husband has passed away will not use kohl or dye during her waiting period, nor will she wear colored clothes, but she may wear a cloth called 'asab. She will not use perfume, but while bathing after menstruation, she may apply a little of the perfumes called 'qist' and 'azfar'.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them) used to forbid a woman whose husband had passed away from using perfume and adornment.

Hazrat Nafi' (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that after the passing of Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), his wife Hazrat Safiyyah developed pain in her eye, so she used to drop the water of a herb called sabr into her eye. (That is, she would not apply kohl even for treatment.)

Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) narrates that a woman whose husband passes away should not use kohl, perfume, jewelry, or dye.

The same is narrated from Hazrat Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him).

Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that a woman whose husband has passed away should neither apply kohl, nor henna, nor perfume. She should wear only a garment called 'asab'. She should not spend the night outside her husband's house, but she may go to meet relatives.

Hazrat Qatadah (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that the husband of Aminah bint Uthman passed away. After her husband's death, she developed pain in her eye. She sent someone to Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) to ask: "In case of illness, I used to apply antimony (ithmid) kohl to my eyes. I fear losing my eye, so can I use the same kohl?" Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) replied: "Do not apply antimony kohl at all, even if you lose your eye."

Hazrat Laith (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that a woman asked Hazrat Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him): "I sell perfume and my husband has passed away. Is it permissible for me to do this?" Hazrat Mujahid forbade her from touching perfume and said that you may use kohl if needed.

Hazrat Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that a woman whose husband passes away cannot wear jewelry during her waiting period (iddah).