Is it permissible for a woman whose husband is in a coma since long ago to go out in the company of a Mahram, such as her nephew, to places such as the market, Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, the hospital, and so on?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

A woman has to know that she must stay in her house and not leave it except when necessary. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means: {And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance.} [Quran 33:33]

The questioner is permitted to leave her house when necessary either to go to the market, to the hospital or to Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. It does not matter that her husband is in a coma, unless he used to forbid her from doing so when he was in a state of consciousness, so she must not go out of the house except when necessary.

If the questioner thinks that she is subject to the rulings of ‘Iddah (post-marriage waiting period) and mourning because her husband is in a coma, she is not right. The rulings of ‘Iddah are applied when the husband actually dies, not just while he is in a coma.

Allaah Knows best.