Does iddat (waiting period) count for someone who is old?
Published as Iddat period of a woman whose husband passed away
Question
Does iddat (waiting period) count for someone who is old?
My grandmother is 80 years old and recently her husband passed away. So since she is old does the rule of iddat apply to her and if yes, what is her iddat?
Answer
Yes, she will have to sit in iddat.
The iddat period of a woman whose husband passes away is four (lunar) months and ten days. This law will apply to the case where the husband passed away on the 1st of the lunar month. If he passed away on the 2nd or any time during the month, the iddat will be 130 days.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
(ثلاثة أشهر ) بالأهلة لو في الغرة وإلا فبالأيام بحر وغيره… ( و ) العدة ( للموت أربعة أشهر ) بالأهلة لو في الغرة كما مر ( وعشرة ) من الأيام بشرط بقاء النكاح صحيحا إلى الموت ( مطلقا ) وطئت أو لا (الدر المختار)
قال الشامي: قوله ( وإلا فبالأيام ) في المحيط إذا اتفق عدة الطلاق والموت في غرة الشهر اعتبرت الشهور بالأهلة وإن نقصت عن العدد وإن اتفق في وسط الشهر فعندالإمام يعتبر بالأيام فتعتد في الطلاق بتسعين يوما وفي الوفاة بمائة وثلاثين وعندهما يكمل الأول من الأخير وما بينهما بالأهلة (رد المحتار/باب العدة 3/509-510)
- Answered by
- Mufti Zakaria Makada
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.
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Source: Mufti Online — Madrasah Ta'leemuddeen — https://muftionline.co.za/node/2991
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/muftionline-2991
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