How long is the mourning period  in Islam Mourning lasts for three days for everyone except the widow. The widow has to mourn four months and ten days, as stipulated in the Quran: 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. (2:234) This iddah is shorter than the iddah of widows in times of Jahiliya when it was one year and the widow had to stay in a darkened, miserable place, like a garden shed. Who does iddah (mourning period) apply to? Mourning for a widow is regardless of her age – she could be 80, it doesn’t matter. If a woman dies, the mourning is three days for her husband and children. Only Allah Almighty knows the wisdom in this. It is not about pregnancy, it is a command from Allah Almighty. We have to accept this. After all our slogan as Muslims is ‘we hear and we obey’. The iddah of a pregnant woman If she is pregnant, a woman’s iddah is until the delivery of her baby, whether it is after one day or after 9 months. It is a means of ensuring there is no pregnancy, as well as an indication of loyalty, coming to terms with the end of the marriage and honouring the relationship. And for those who are pregnant, their Iddah (prescribed period) is until they lay down their burden’ (65:4) What does iddah involve The wife’s mourning (iddah) is overloaded by culture, what she can do and what she can’t do? In the hadith, the Prophet (peace be on him) mentioned that she shouldn’t put on make up, or go out and meet non-mahrams unless there is need. She should not attend weddings, or … Continue reading How long is iddah for widows? Do older women need to observe iddah?