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).

And the Eminent Shaykh Abdul-Azeez bn Baaz (may Allah bestow His mercy on him) said:

As for what the public think and falsely circulate (among one another) that a woman in her waiting period cannot talk to anyone, and that she cannot make or answer telephone calls, and that she cannot take bath except once in a week, and that she cannot walk in the house barefooted, and that she cannot go out in the moon; among other false notions. All these are baseless. In fact, she can walk barefooted and otherwise in the house. She can go about her normal business in the house – she can cook for herself and for her visitors. She can go out in the moon – whether in front of the house or the house garden. She can take bath when she likes. She can talk to anyone she wants to provided there is no incredulity in such a conversation. She can shake women so also her Mahaarim , as for other than those, she cannot shake them. She can remove her head-cover when only her Mahaarim are present. But she cannot apply Henna (to her body) nor saffron nor perfume – not on her clothes nor in her coffee (respectively) because saffron is a type of perfume. And she cannot dye her hands and legs. And there is nothing wrong in her showing indirect readiness of re-marriage. As for explicit readiness for acceptance of proposal, it is not permissible.

All success lies with Allaah.

(Fatawa Islamiyyah 3/316), Fatwa rendered by Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah bestow His mercy on him).