Translation: Aboo Aamir Ishaaq bn AbdirRaheem
The Honourable Shaykh Muhammad bn Sâlih Al-Uthaymeen (may Allah bestow His mercy on him) said:
As for what some of the members of the public say that a woman in her waiting period (Iddah) should not talk to anyone, no (man) should come in contact with her, she should not go to the house backyard nor its front, she should not see the moon, she should not take her bath except on Fridays, she should not delay her Salat much after the call to prayer has been made.
All these (restrictions) have no basis in the Shariah.
A woman in her waiting period, with regard to talking to men, is like a woman not in her waiting period. So also is the matter with regard to her looking at men, and men looking at her, want binds her is what binds a woman not in her waiting period – she must cover her face and what could be a source of trial to men. It is permissible for her to talk to men even if such are not within the degree of consanguinity, so far there is no harm in her doing so. So also she can pick calls (from men), and she can answer them from behind the door of the house when they knock. She can do all that is similar to the above.
(Fatawa Islamiyyah 3/313). Fatwa rendered by Shaykh Ibn Al-Uthaymeen (may Allah bestow His mercy on him).
The Honourable Shaykh Abdullah bn Abdir-Rahman Al-Jibreen (may Allah bestow His mercy on him) also said:
Putting on black clothes as a symbol of showing condolence over death of a person is an innovation. What the wives of a deceased person ought to do is to avoid gorgeous cloths, ornaments, beautification, wearing of perfume in the period of the Iddah.
As for their refrainment from their normal activities in the period of the waiting period, then it is an innovation. Woman in her waiting period can therefore prepare food, sweep (the floor) of the house, wash dishes and cloths. She has nothing against her if she does all those.
Allaah knows better.
(Al-Lu’lu’ Al-Makeen p. 39)
