Can a widow leave the house during her ʿiddah?

In more detail

• “Stay in your house”

  Furayʿah bint Mālik’s husband was killed, and he left her no house of his own. She asked the Prophet ﷺ whether she could go back to her family. He said: stay in your house until the term is complete. She spent four months and ten days there, and ʿUthmān later judged by it.

  Sunan Abī Dāwūd 2300 (ṣaḥīḥ, al-Albānī) · Qurʾān, al-Baqarah 2:234

• Going out by day

  Ḥanafī: she goes out by day and spends most of the night at home, because she supports herself. Mālikī: she goes out for her needs at either end of the day. Shāfiʿī: a woman with no one to meet her needs may go out by day, and at night to a neighbour, returning to sleep at home. Ḥanbalī: she goes out for her needs by day, the time of needs and livelihood, and does not sleep away from home.

  Ibn ʿĀbidīn, Radd al-Muḥtār (Ḥanafī), 3:530–538 · Al-Dardīr, al-Sharḥ al-Kabīr, with Ḥāshiyat al-Dasūqī (Mālikī), 2:478–479 and 2:484–487 · Al-Ramlī, Nihāyat al-Muḥtāj (Shāfiʿī), 7:149–157 · Ibn Qudāmah, al-Mughnī (Ḥanbalī), 8:154–163

• Work, shopping and appointments

  The books’ reasons (she supports herself; the day is the time for needs and livelihood) cover work, shopping and appointments.

  When a widow’s ʿiddah ends

  Ibn ʿĀbidīn, Radd al-Muḥtār (Ḥanafī), 3:530–538 · Ibn Qudāmah, al-Mughnī (Ḥanbalī), 8:154–163

• When she may move

  Ḥanafī: if the house is falling down, if she fears for her property, or if she cannot pay the rent. Mālikī: if the house is collapsing, or for fear of a bad neighbour or thieves. Shāfiʿī: for fear of collapse, flood or bad neighbours. Ḥanbalī: if she fears collapse, flood or an enemy, or cannot find the rent.

  Ibn ʿĀbidīn, Radd al-Muḥtār (Ḥanafī), 3:530–538 · Al-Dardīr, al-Sharḥ al-Kabīr, with Ḥāshiyat al-Dasūqī (Mālikī), 2:478–479 and 2:484–487 · Al-Ramlī, Nihāyat al-Muḥtāj (Shāfiʿī), 7:149–157 · Ibn Qudāmah, al-Mughnī (Ḥanbalī), 8:154–163

• What she sets aside

  For the length of the ʿiddah she sets aside adornment, such as perfume, jewellery, kohl, henna and clothes worn to look beautiful. Washing, combing and keeping clean are not adornment.

  Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1280 · Ibn ʿĀbidīn, Radd al-Muḥtār (Ḥanafī), 3:530–538 · Al-Dardīr, al-Sharḥ al-Kabīr, with Ḥāshiyat al-Dasūqī (Mālikī), 2:478–479 and 2:484–487 · Al-Ramlī, Nihāyat al-Muḥtāj (Shāfiʿī), 7:149–157 · Ibn Qudāmah, al-Mughnī (Ḥanbalī), 8:154–163

• Ask about the details

  The schools differ on smaller details. For what the ʿiddah means for her day to day, ask your imam or a woman scholar. After the first days, check in on her quietly with help for errands and appointments.