Is a widow permitted to shave her pubic hair during the ‘Iddah (post-marriage waiting period)?

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 widow is permitted to shave her pubic hair during the ‘Iddah, since it is one of the Sunan of Fitrah (acts of natural disposition). Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "The acts of Fitrah are five: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, trimming the mustache, clipping the nails and plucking the armpit hair." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Talking about the widow's status during the ‘Iddah, Ibn Qudaamah said in Al-Mughni: "She is allowed to cleanse herself by clipping her nails, plucking the armpit hair and shaving hair which is recommended to be shaved under Sharee‘ah."

A widow is prohibited to do anything that features beautification and adornment during the ‘Iddah. Shaving the pubic hair, however, is a concealed matter and there is no beautification involved.