Question
Can a woman attend the funeral of her husband if his funeral is carried out in a different city to which she is residing in and if so, does she have to complete her ʿIddat in the city where the funeral takes place or can she return home to complete her ʿIddat ?
Answer
It is impermissible for a woman to leave her home during her ʿiddah, or waiting period, except in circumstances permitted by the Sharīʿah. This does not include attending the funeral of her deceased husband.
Consider the following :
1. A woman observing her ʿiddah, whether due to a revocable divorce, an irrevocable divorce, or the death of her husband, is required to remain in her place of residence until her waiting period has been completed. Allah says in Sūrah al-Ṭalāq:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ ۖ لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِنۢ بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ
O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period and keep count of the waiting period, and fear Allāh, your Lord. Do not turn them out of their [husbands'] houses, nor should they [themselves] leave [during that period]
2. Examples of circumstances in which the Sharīʿah permits a woman observing ʿiddah to leave her residence include:
a) A widow observing ʿiddah may leave her home during the day when there is a genuine need, such as purchasing essential supplies. If someone is able to assist her in purchasing these supplies, or she is able to order supplies and have them delivered, then there would be no genuine need for her to leave home.
b) If her husband granted her permission to travel for a specific purpose, such as Ḥajj, ʿUmrah, or business, and a separation or his passing occurs while she is away from her home city, she may complete the purpose of her journey. However, upon completing the purpose of her journey, she must return home to complete her ʿiddah.
3. When a woman observing ʿiddah leaves her home or relocates without a valid need or necessity, she must return to her original residence to complete the remainder of her ʿiddah.
4. From the above, it may be observed that the exceptions allowing a woman to leave her residence during ʿiddah are strictly limited to genuine, time-sensitive necessities. Attending her husband's funeral does not constitute a legally recognised necessity under the Sharīʿah and is therefore not permitted.
5. We are aware of more lenient positions that exist within the other schools of thought; however, we only advise adopting such positions under special and warranted circumstances. Opening the door to some of these more lenient positions may undermine the seriousness and sensitivity of the rulings relating to the waiting period.
6. ʿIddah is an act of worship, and completing it with patience and devotion carries great spiritual merit. Once the period of ʿiddah has concluded, she may visit her husband's grave.
والله أعلم
And Allah knows best
النصوص المستند إليها :
(وَ) إذا وجبت السكنى فإنما (تُسَكَّنُ) بضم أوّله بخطه: أي المعتدة حتمًا (فِي مَسْكَنٍ) مستِحقٍ للزوج لائق بها (كَانَتْ فيه عنْدَ الْفُرْقَة) بموت أو غيره للآية وحديث فريعة السابقين(وَلَيْس لِلزَّوْجِ وَغَيْرِهِ إخْرَاجُهَا، وَلَا لَهَا خُرُوجٌ) منه وإن رضي به الزوج إلا لعذر كما سيأتي لأن في العدة حق الله تعالى، والحق الذي لله تعالى لا يسقط بالتراضي - بالضّاد -، وقد قال تعالى: (لاَ تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِنْ بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلاَ يَخْرُجْنَ) [الطلاق: ١].
(مغني)
وَلَهَا الْخُرُوجُ فِي عِدَّةِ وَفَاةٍ ، وَكَذَا بَائِنٌ فِي النَّهَارِ لِشِرَاءِ طَعَامٍ وَغَزْلٍ وَنَحْوِهِ، وَكَذَا لَيْلًا إلَى دَارِ جَارَةٍ لِغَزْلٍ وَحَدِيثٍ وَنَحْوِهِمَا بِشَرْطِ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ وَتَبِيتَ فِي بَيْتِهَا
(منهاج)
(أو) أذن لها فى (سفر حجّ) أو عَمارة (أو تجارة) أو استحلال مظلمة أو نحوها (ثم وجبت) عليها العدة (فى) أثناء (الطريق فلها الرجوع) إلى الأول (والمضى) فى السفر لأن فى قطعها من السفر مشقة…
(نهاية)
وخرج بالطريق ما لو وجبت قبل الخروج من المنزل فلا تخرج قطعا ،وما لو وجبت فيه ولم تفارق عمران البلد فيجب العود فى الأصح عند الجمهور كما فى أصل الروضة إذ لم تشرع فى السفر (فإن مضت) لمقصدها وبلغته (أقامت) فيه (لقضاء حاجتها) من غير زيادة عملا بحسب الحاجة وإن زادت إقامتها على مدة المسافرين كما شمله كلامهم، وأفهم أنها لو انقضت قبل ثلاثة أيام امتنع عليها استكمالها وهو الأصح فى زيادة الروضة وبه قطع فى المحرر وإن اقتضى كلام الشرحين خلافه (ثم) بعد قضاء حاجتها (يجب الرجوع) حالا (لتعتد البقية) منها (فى المسكن). الذى فارقته لأنه الأصل فى ذلك ، فإن لم تمض اعتدت البقية فى مسكنها ، وسواء فى وجوب رجوعها أدركت شيئا منها فيه أم كانت تنقضى فى الرجوع كما في الشرح والروضة لعدم إذنه في إقامتها وعودها مأذون فيه من جهته ، أما سفرها لنزهة أو زيارة ، أو سافر بها الزوج لحاجته فلا تزيد على مدة إقامة المسافرين ثم تعود…
(نهاية)