Ruling on a Woman Whose Husband Goes Missing – Four-Year Waiting Period

A Woman Whose Husband Is Missing Should Wait Four Years

✍ By: Imran Ayoob Lahori

If a woman’s husband goes missing, she should wait for four years, then observe the ʿiddah of a widow, and until she marries someone else, she will still be counted as his wife.

This is in accordance with the fatwa given by ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab (RA):
[Muwattaʾ 2/575; al-Umm 5/241; al-Bayhaqi 7/445; al-Muhalla 10/135]

The Prophet’s ﷺ manner of dealing with emigrant women supports this ruling as well.