❖ ʿIddah for Elderly Women and the Wisdom Behind It ❖
This fatwa is taken from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women,” based on the rulings of the Scholars of the Haramain, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
If so, what is the wisdom behind her ʿiddah when it is evident that she is far beyond childbearing age?
Given that the primary purpose of ʿiddah is to establish whether a woman is pregnant or not, what is the justification for enforcing it upon such elderly women?
Yes, the woman mentioned in the question must observe the ʿiddah, and her waiting period is four months and ten days. This ruling falls under the general command of Allah ﷻ in the Qur'an:
وَالَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنْكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَاجًا يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا
“And those among you who die and leave behind wives — they shall wait for four months and ten days.”
[Surah al-Baqarah 2:234]
Despite her old age and lack of childbearing capacity, the wisdom behind this obligation includes:
① To uphold the sanctity and esteem of the marriage contract (ʿaqd al-nikāḥ).
② To honour the deceased husband by mourning and refraining from beautification.
③ To manifest loyalty and emotional attachment to the marital bond, even after the husband's death.
④ To publicly demonstrate the effects of widowhood, even if the woman was elderly or mentally diminished.
The ʿiddah for a pregnant woman is not four months and ten days but until she delivers the child, as per the verse:
وَأُوْلَاتُ الْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَنْ يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ
“And those who are pregnant, their term is until they deliver their burden.”
[Surah al-Ṭalāq 65:4]
This verse specifies an exception to the general ruling in Surah al-Baqarah.
The reason for this ruling is that the child belongs to the first husband. If a woman remarries immediately after separation or death and is pregnant, the new husband would be engaging in relations with a woman bearing another man’s child, which is impermissible.
As the Prophet ﷺ said:
لا يَحِلُّ لامْرِئٍ يُؤْمِنُ باللهِ واليومِ الآخِرِ أنْ يَسْقِيَ ماءَهُ زَرْعَ غيرِهِ
“It is not permissible for a man who believes in Allah and the Last Day to irrigate another man’s crop with his water.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Nikāḥ 2158, Musnad Aḥmad 4/108)
A Muslim must submit to the rulings of Islamic Law, whether or not the wisdom behind them is understood.
Belief in Allah's perfect wisdom and justice in His commands is obligatory. If someone is granted understanding of the Divine wisdom, then that is “light upon light” and a great blessing.
(Dār al-Iftāʾ Committee)
This fatwa is taken from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women,” based on the rulings of the Scholars of the Haramain, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
❖ Question:
A 70-year-old woman, who lacked mental clarity and was unable to serve her husband, was still legally married to him when he passed away. Is she still required to observe the same ʿiddah as other women?If so, what is the wisdom behind her ʿiddah when it is evident that she is far beyond childbearing age?
Given that the primary purpose of ʿiddah is to establish whether a woman is pregnant or not, what is the justification for enforcing it upon such elderly women?
❖ Answer:
Yes, the woman mentioned in the question must observe the ʿiddah, and her waiting period is four months and ten days. This ruling falls under the general command of Allah ﷻ in the Qur'an:
وَالَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنْكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَاجًا يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا
“And those among you who die and leave behind wives — they shall wait for four months and ten days.”
[Surah al-Baqarah 2:234]
Despite her old age and lack of childbearing capacity, the wisdom behind this obligation includes:
❖ The Wisdom of ʿIddah for Elderly Women:
① To uphold the sanctity and esteem of the marriage contract (ʿaqd al-nikāḥ).
② To honour the deceased husband by mourning and refraining from beautification.
③ To manifest loyalty and emotional attachment to the marital bond, even after the husband's death.
④ To publicly demonstrate the effects of widowhood, even if the woman was elderly or mentally diminished.
❖ ʿIddah of Pregnant Women:
The ʿiddah for a pregnant woman is not four months and ten days but until she delivers the child, as per the verse:
وَأُوْلَاتُ الْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَنْ يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ
“And those who are pregnant, their term is until they deliver their burden.”
[Surah al-Ṭalāq 65:4]
This verse specifies an exception to the general ruling in Surah al-Baqarah.
❖ Wisdom Behind Waiting Until Delivery:
The reason for this ruling is that the child belongs to the first husband. If a woman remarries immediately after separation or death and is pregnant, the new husband would be engaging in relations with a woman bearing another man’s child, which is impermissible.
As the Prophet ﷺ said:
لا يَحِلُّ لامْرِئٍ يُؤْمِنُ باللهِ واليومِ الآخِرِ أنْ يَسْقِيَ ماءَهُ زَرْعَ غيرِهِ
“It is not permissible for a man who believes in Allah and the Last Day to irrigate another man’s crop with his water.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Nikāḥ 2158, Musnad Aḥmad 4/108)
❖ Final Note:
A Muslim must submit to the rulings of Islamic Law, whether or not the wisdom behind them is understood.
Belief in Allah's perfect wisdom and justice in His commands is obligatory. If someone is granted understanding of the Divine wisdom, then that is “light upon light” and a great blessing.
(Dār al-Iftāʾ Committee)
