Nasai

Actually, there are two verses in the Noble Qur’an. Both are in Surah al-Baqarah. The meaning of one verse is: “Those women whose husbands pass away should keep themselves in waiting for four months and ten days.” The meaning of the other verse is: “Before passing away, husbands should make a bequest regarding their wives that they should not be turned out of their homes for a year; however, if they themselves leave, then it is their own choice.” From the words “keep themselves in waiting” in the first verse, it has been understood that they should remain in the husband’s house. Moreover, this is also the waiting period (‘iddah) for the woman. According to most exegetes (mufassirun), this verse is abrogating (nasikh), and the subsequent verse—which is the basis of the reasoning of Ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhu—is abrogated (mansukh). Therefore, it is not correct to deduce any ruling from it. In any case, according to the inference of Ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhu, in the second verse, these women were given permission to leave the house, but many Companions (sahabah) and the majority of scholars (jumhur ahl al-‘ilm) are of the opinion that the concession to leave the house was not during the four months and ten days, but rather during the remaining period of the year—that is, seven months and twenty days—which was kept as a concession for them by way of bequest. And that too is now abrogated. Now, it is obligatory for them to spend the actual waiting period (‘iddah) in the husband’s house. This is explicitly stated in the hadith, and therefore, in light of the hadith—which is the correct interpretation of the Qur’an and itself an independent source—the position of the majority of scholars is the correct one. (For further details, see Hadith: 3558)