Widow has to move during her Iddah period

28-10-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

My question is: If a widow whose husband passed away was staying in rented home or in a different country but has to move out during the Iddah period and has no choice due to her circumstance. What should she do? Is it Halaal to move out?

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Answer:

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 is His slave and Messenger.

 

In principle, it is not permissible for a widow in her waiting period to move from the house where she was living when her husband passed away without a valid and sound reason. However, if she is obliged to move, then there is no harm on her, as Allaah says (what means): {…while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity?} [Quran 6:119]

Allaah also says (what means): {…and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion} [Quran 22:78]

Moreover, the author of Az-Zaad, Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim said regarding a woman in her waiting period who moves out of her deceased husband's house: "If she is afraid, or if she is forced to move, or because of a valid religious reason, then she can move to wherever she wishes." However, some scholars set a condition that she should move to the nearest house to her deceased husband's house.

Allaah Knows best.