Fatwa ID: 01641

Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

assalam alaikum

Sir my question is what is the purpose of iddat after dissolution of marriage either by death of a husband or by talaq… and during the iddat can a women go outside his house I mean attending marriage or funeral or is it prohibited for her….

Answer:

Iddah is a right of the Shariah and is something, which is obligatory for all Muslim sisters. There are many rules which are attached with the iddah; some are connected with the husband such as he has to provide his divorced wife with food and living accommodations which during the period and some are connected with the wife such as she is not allowed to leave the house during this period unless there is a valid Islamic need. The rules of iddah have to be followed by both the husband and wife otherwise they will be considered sinful for discarding a command of Allah .

A benefit of iddah is that if the husband issued the Talaq in anger or haste and he later regrets his actions, then if he gave one or two Talaq Rajee, he has the option of later taking his wife back during her iddah. Even if he gave her a Talaq Baain, the couple can reconsider their pasts and re do their nikah.

Another wisdom is that it is a means of safeguarding a lineage. Had it not been for this it would have caused many mix ups regarding the progeny of a child. The iddah is a precautionary way of safeguarding a child’s lineage. (The Concept of Divorce p.197)

In regards to your question, it is not permissible for a woman in iddah to attend a marriage or even a funeral. (Hidayah p.410 v.2)

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham.