What is the Iddah (waiting period) of the widow after her husband dies, before she is able to marry again?
ما هي عدة المتوفى عنها زوجها؟
The waiting period for a widow is an essential Islamic ruling designed to protect the lineage of the deceased husband while providing the widow with a dignified period of mourning and transition.
عدة الأرملة هي حكم إسلامي أساسي يهدف إلى حماية نسب الزوج المتوفى مع تزويد الأرملة بفترة كريمة للحداد والانتقال.
Categories of the Widow's Waiting Period | حالات عدة الأرملة
1. The Pregnant Widow
If the widow is carrying a child (pregnant) then she has to wait until she delivers her child.
1. الأرملة الحامل
الحامل عدتها إلى أن تضع الحمل.
2. The Non Pregnant Widow
The widow who is not pregnant shall wait (as regards her marriage) for four months and ten days.
2. الأرملة غير الحامل
أما غير الحامل فعدتها أربعة أشهر وعشرة أيام.
3. The Quranic Command
(As for those of you who die and leave widows behind, let them observe a waiting period of four months and ten days. When they have reached the end of this period, then you are not accountable for what they decide for themselves in a reasonable manner. And Allah is All Aware of what you do.) Al Baqara 2:234.
3. الأمر القرآني
(وَالَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَاجًا يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ۖ فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا فَعَلْنَ فِي أَنفُسِهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ) البقرة 2: 234.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
How long must a pregnant widow wait before she can remarry?
Her waiting period ends the moment she delivers her child, even if she gives birth shortly after her husband passes away.
What is the waiting period for a widow who is not pregnant?
She must observe a waiting period of exactly four lunar months and ten days before she is permitted to marry another man.
What is the primary purpose of the widow's waiting period?
It serves to ensure there is no pregnancy from the deceased husband, thereby protecting the family lineage, while also providing a dignified period of mourning and transition.