Fatwa ID: 08961
Answered by Maulana Abdurrahman Persaud
Question:
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh,
I pray you are well. I would like to seek clarification according to the Ḥanafī madhhab.
I am currently in my ʿiddah period following a divorce, and I understand that I am required to remain in my home during this time. However, my father, who lives in London, is critically ill and may not survive much longer.
Would it be permissible for me to travel from Birmingham to visit him out of necessity (ḍarūra), and then return to my ʿiddah home as soon as possible?
Jazākallāhu khayran for your time and guidance.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
May Allah ﷻ make it easy for you during these difficult times and grant your father a speedy and healthy recovery.
In general, a woman is not permitted to leave her home during her Iddah without a clear necessity, such as fear of losing her home, life, or livelihood.[1]
The instruction of Iddah is the right of Allah and his command.
In the enquired circumstance, there is no Sharia-recognized pressing need to relax the command of Allah.
However, understanding the critical situation you are in, if you do decide to breach the laws of Iddah, then sincere tawbah and istighfar must be made.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Abdurrahman Persaud
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
وَتَعْتَدَّانِ) أَيْ مُعْتَدَّةُ طَلَاقٍ وَمَوْتٍ (فِي بَيْتٍ وَجَبَتْ فِيهِ) وَلَا يَخْرُجَانِ مِنْهُ (إلَّا أَنْ تُخْرَجَ أَوْ يَتَهَدَّمَ الْمَنْزِلُ، أَوْ تَخَافُ) انْهِدَامَهُ، أَوْ (تَلَفَ مَالِهَا، أَوْ لَا تَجِدَ كِرَاءَ الْبَيْتِ) وَنَحْوَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ الضَّرُورَاتِ فَتَخْرُجُ لِأَقْرَبِ مَوْضِعٍ إلَيْهِ،
ص536 – كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ط الحلبي – فصل في الحداد – المكتبة الشاملة
الرابط:https://shamela.ws/book/21613/1818#p3