Obligation for a Widow in ʿIddah to Refrain from Adornment
✍ By: Imran Ayoob Lahori
A widow in her ʿiddah must leave all forms of adornment and observe the prescribed mourning period.
From Umm Salamah (RA), the Prophet ﷺ said:
“It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to mourn for more than three days, except for her husband, in which case she must mourn for four months and ten days.”
[Bukhari 3554; Muslim 938; Abu Dawud 2302; al-Nasa’i 6/202; Ibn Majah 2087; Ahmad 6/408]
Another narration from Umm Salamah (RA):
When a woman’s husband died and her eye was in pain, her family asked the Prophet ﷺ for permission for her to use kohl (antimony). He ﷺ forbade it and mentioned the harsh mourning customs of the Jahiliyyah, then instructed her not to use kohl until four months and ten days had passed.
[Bukhari 5338; Muslim 1486; Muwattaʾ 2/596; Abu Dawud 2299; al-Tirmidhi 1195]
From Umm ʿAtiyyah (RA), the Prophet ﷺ said:
“A woman must not mourn for more than three days except for her husband — four months and ten days — during which she must not wear dyed clothing (except simple Yemeni cloth), must not apply kohl, must not use perfume except upon purification from menstruation (when she may use a little incense or al-adhfar), must not apply henna, and must not comb her hair.”
[Bukhari 5341; Muslim 938; Abu Dawud 2302; al-Nasa’i 3534, 3536]
Conclusion:
A widow in ʿiddah must avoid all forms of beautification and follow the mourning restrictions until her ʿiddah ends, in obedience to the explicit Sunnah.
✍ By: Imran Ayoob Lahori
A widow in her ʿiddah must leave all forms of adornment and observe the prescribed mourning period.
Duration of Mourning
From Umm Salamah (RA), the Prophet ﷺ said:
“It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to mourn for more than three days, except for her husband, in which case she must mourn for four months and ten days.”
[Bukhari 3554; Muslim 938; Abu Dawud 2302; al-Nasa’i 6/202; Ibn Majah 2087; Ahmad 6/408]
Prohibition of Adornment During Mourning
Another narration from Umm Salamah (RA):
When a woman’s husband died and her eye was in pain, her family asked the Prophet ﷺ for permission for her to use kohl (antimony). He ﷺ forbade it and mentioned the harsh mourning customs of the Jahiliyyah, then instructed her not to use kohl until four months and ten days had passed.
[Bukhari 5338; Muslim 1486; Muwattaʾ 2/596; Abu Dawud 2299; al-Tirmidhi 1195]
From Umm ʿAtiyyah (RA), the Prophet ﷺ said:
“A woman must not mourn for more than three days except for her husband — four months and ten days — during which she must not wear dyed clothing (except simple Yemeni cloth), must not apply kohl, must not use perfume except upon purification from menstruation (when she may use a little incense or al-adhfar), must not apply henna, and must not comb her hair.”
[Bukhari 5341; Muslim 938; Abu Dawud 2302; al-Nasa’i 3534, 3536]
Key Rulings
- Mourning more than three days is prohibited for anyone other than a husband.
- A widow must refrain from adornment for the full ʿiddah (four months and ten days), unless she is pregnant, in which case her mourning lasts until childbirth.
- Kohl, perfume, henna, dyed clothing (except basic cloth), and hair combing for beautification are all forbidden in this period.
- Divorced Women:
- Rajʿi divorce: no mourning.
- Bāʾinah divorce: difference of opinion — majority say no mourning is obligatory; Abu Hanifah says it is. The stronger view is that no mourning is required due to lack of proof.
Conclusion:
A widow in ʿiddah must avoid all forms of beautification and follow the mourning restrictions until her ʿiddah ends, in obedience to the explicit Sunnah.
