Widow observing ‘iddah going out due to necessity

 

My father was killed in Baghdad and we were forced to leave our home, we went to Turkey. My mother was obliged by the iddah for one month and half, then she cut it due to the residency issues, and she is continuing it now. Shall she start over or continue after the one month and half she already spent? Knowing that my father died four months ago.

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly: 

We ask Allaah to reward you for your calamity and to
compensate you with something better, and to suffice the believers against
the evil of the aggressors and hypocrites. 

Secondly: 

The ‘iddah of a woman whose husband has died is four months
and ten days, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And those of you who die and leave wives behind them,
they (the wives) shall wait (as regards their marriage) for four months and
ten days”

[al-Baqarah 2:234] 

This period begins when the husband dies, and ends when the
time is over, whether the wife adheres to the rulings on mourning or not,
and whether she knows of her husband’s death or not. When four months and
ten days have passed from the time of his death, then her ‘iddah ends. 

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said (8/93): The
scholars are unanimously agreed that the ‘iddah of a free Muslim woman who
is not pregnant is four months and ten days from the death of her husband,
whether the marriage had been consummated or not, and whether she was an
adult who had reached puberty or very young and had not yet reached puberty.
That is because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And those of you who die and leave wives behind them, they
(the wives) shall wait (as regards their marriage) for four months and ten
days.” 

 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “it is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allaah and the Last
Day to mourn for any one who dies for more than three days, except for a
husband, four months and ten days.” Agreed upon. End quote. 

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (20/421): The
woman whose husband dies must observe ‘iddah for four months and ten days if
she is not pregnant. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And
those of you who die and leave wives behind them, they (the wives) shall
wait (as regards their marriage) for four months and ten days”. That
starts from the date of death. If a woman deliberately does not observe
mourning then she is sinning, and she has to repent and seek forgiveness.
End quote. 

It also says (20/481): The ‘iddah for one whose husband dies
is four months and ten days immediately following the death, and until
giving birth if she is pregnant. So long as your mother did not observe
mourning during the appointed time due to ignorance or for some other
reason, then she does not have to offer expiation, but she has to repent and
seek forgiveness, and recite a lot of dhikr. 

Thirdly: 

A woman who is observing iddah following her husband’s death
may go out of the house during the day to meet her needs, such as dealing
with government procedures if there is no one who can do that for her. But
at night she should not go out except in cases of necessity. 

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
al-Mughni (8/130): The woman who is observing 'iddah may go out and do
errands during the day, whether she is divorced or widowed, because of the
report narrated by Jaabir who said: My maternal aunt was thrice divorced and
she went out to harvest her palm trees. A man met her and told her not to do
that. She mentioned that to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) and he said: “Go out and harvest your palm trees; perhaps you
will give some of it in charity or do some good.” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i and
Abu Dawood.  

Mujahid narrated: Some men were martyred on the day of Uhud
and their wives came to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allaah, we feel scared at
night; can we stay in the house of one of our number, then in the morning we
will go to our own houses? The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: “Chat together in the house of one of your
number, then when you want to sleep, each one should go to her own house.”
She does not have the right to stay overnight anywhere but in her own house,
or to go out at night, except in cases of necessity, because night is a time
of suspicion, unlike the day, which is the time when people go about their
errands and earn a living, and buy what they need. End quote. 

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (20/440): The
basic principle is that a woman should mourn in the house of her husband
where he died, and she should not go out except in cases of need or
necessity, such as going to the hospital if she falls sick or buying what
she needs from the marketplace such as bread and the like, if she does not
have anyone who can do that. End quote. 

To sum up: There is nothing wrong with your mother going out
to deal with government business, in sha Allaah, and she is not regarded as
breaking her ‘iddah, because she is going out for a need or for something
essential. If your father died four months ago then there are ten days left
of the ‘iddah. 

And Allaah knows best.