Widow Should Remain in the House Where She Was at the Time of Her Husband’s Death
✍ By: Imran Ayoob Lahori
A widow must complete her ʿiddah in the house where she was residing with her husband at the time of his death, or where she received the news of his death.
Evidence:
Fariʿah bint Malik (RA) reported:
Her husband went out to search for his runaway slaves, and they killed him. She said:
“I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about returning to my family home since my husband did not leave any house of his own or any maintenance for me.”
The Prophet ﷺ initially permitted her, but when she reached her room, he called her back and said:
"Stay in your house until the prescribed term (ʿiddah) is completed."
Fariʿah (RA) said: “So I completed my ʿiddah of four months and ten days in that same house.”
She further said: “Later, ʿUthman (RA) issued the same ruling.”
[Sahih: Sunan Abi Dawud 2016, 2300; al-Tirmidhi 1204; al-Nasa’i 6/199; Muwattaʾ 2/591; al-Hakim 2/208 – authenticated by al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi]
This ruling is affirmed by authentic reports from:
Some Companions like ʿAli (RA), Ibn ʿAbbas (RA), and ʿAishah (RA) allowed moving without restriction, and some like ʿImran ibn Husayn (RA) and Zayd ibn Thabit (RA) allowed leaving for valid excuses. However, these are not stronger than the authentic marfuʿ hadith of Fariʿah (RA).
Conclusion:
The strongest and most correct opinion is that a widow completes her ʿiddah in the same house where she was at the time of her husband’s death, unless there is a genuine necessity to leave.
✍ By: Imran Ayoob Lahori
A widow must complete her ʿiddah in the house where she was residing with her husband at the time of his death, or where she received the news of his death.
Evidence:
Fariʿah bint Malik (RA) reported:
Her husband went out to search for his runaway slaves, and they killed him. She said:
“I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about returning to my family home since my husband did not leave any house of his own or any maintenance for me.”
The Prophet ﷺ initially permitted her, but when she reached her room, he called her back and said:
"Stay in your house until the prescribed term (ʿiddah) is completed."
Fariʿah (RA) said: “So I completed my ʿiddah of four months and ten days in that same house.”
She further said: “Later, ʿUthman (RA) issued the same ruling.”
[Sahih: Sunan Abi Dawud 2016, 2300; al-Tirmidhi 1204; al-Nasa’i 6/199; Muwattaʾ 2/591; al-Hakim 2/208 – authenticated by al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi]
Scholarly Position
- This hadith proves a widow must remain in the same house for her entire ʿiddah.
- This is the view of scholars like al-Sanʿani, Ibn al-Qayyim, and the majority of the Companions (RA).
- Imams Ahmad, al-Shafiʿi, and Abu Hanifah also hold this opinion.
- Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr recorded that jurists of Hijaz, Sham, Egypt, and Iraq gave fatwas according to this.
Supporting Reports
This ruling is affirmed by authentic reports from:
- ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab (RA)
- ʿUthman ibn ʿAffan (RA)
- ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿud (RA)
- ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar (RA)
- Umm Salamah (RA)
- Zayd ibn Thabit (RA)
- Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr, and Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri.
Contrary Views
Some Companions like ʿAli (RA), Ibn ʿAbbas (RA), and ʿAishah (RA) allowed moving without restriction, and some like ʿImran ibn Husayn (RA) and Zayd ibn Thabit (RA) allowed leaving for valid excuses. However, these are not stronger than the authentic marfuʿ hadith of Fariʿah (RA).
Conclusion:
The strongest and most correct opinion is that a widow completes her ʿiddah in the same house where she was at the time of her husband’s death, unless there is a genuine necessity to leave.
