❖ Answering the Phone During ʿIddah: Islamic Ruling for Widowed Women ❖
This ruling is excerpted from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women”, based on the Fatwas of the Scholars of the Haramain, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
Ibtisam bint Nasir asks about a woman observing ʿiddah (waiting period) after her husband's death.
Is it permissible for her to answer a telephone call when she doesn't know whether the caller is a man or a woman?
Also, what are the key obligations upon a woman during the ʿiddah period?
During the ʿiddah period, a woman is required to observe mourning and adhere to specific Islamic guidelines:
She must not wear adorned or decorative clothing.
She must avoid jewelry, hair dye (ḥināʾ), kohl (surma) for beautification, and any form of makeup.
She is prohibited from using perfume or fragrance.
She must not leave her home except out of genuine need.
She should not appear before non-maḥram men.
She may move freely within the house and adjacent areas, such as the rooftop or courtyard.
She is allowed to answer phone calls, but if she realizes that the caller is a man or someone from a group interested in proposing marriage, she must end the conversation immediately.
She may speak modestly and within limits with non-maḥram relatives over the phone, observing proper ḥijāb in speech. This is permissible even outside of ʿiddah as long as it is within Islamic boundaries.
(Shaykh Ibn Jibreen – ḥafiẓahullāh)
This ruling is excerpted from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women”, based on the Fatwas of the Scholars of the Haramain, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
❖ Question:
Ibtisam bint Nasir asks about a woman observing ʿiddah (waiting period) after her husband's death.
Is it permissible for her to answer a telephone call when she doesn't know whether the caller is a man or a woman?
Also, what are the key obligations upon a woman during the ʿiddah period?
❖ Answer:
During the ʿiddah period, a woman is required to observe mourning and adhere to specific Islamic guidelines:
❖ Things Prohibited During ʿIddah:
She must not wear adorned or decorative clothing. She must avoid jewelry, hair dye (ḥināʾ), kohl (surma) for beautification, and any form of makeup. She is prohibited from using perfume or fragrance. She must not leave her home except out of genuine need. She should not appear before non-maḥram men.✔ Permissible Activities During ʿIddah:
She may move freely within the house and adjacent areas, such as the rooftop or courtyard. She is allowed to answer phone calls, but if she realizes that the caller is a man or someone from a group interested in proposing marriage, she must end the conversation immediately. She may speak modestly and within limits with non-maḥram relatives over the phone, observing proper ḥijāb in speech. This is permissible even outside of ʿiddah as long as it is within Islamic boundaries.(Shaykh Ibn Jibreen – ḥafiẓahullāh)
