Waiting Period for Death

**Death Iddah:** This is the waiting period obligatory upon a woman whose husband has died. There are two scenarios: --- **1. If She is Pregnant:** Her waiting period ends with the delivery of the child - even if it is an hour after her husband's death. **Evidence:** Allah says: "And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth" [At-Talaq: 4] Also the hadith of Subay'ah al-Aslamiyyah رضي الله عنها who gave birth a few nights after her husband's death. She came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked permission to marry, and he permitted her [Bukhari]. --- **2. If She is Not Pregnant:** Her waiting period is **four months and ten days**. This applies regardless of whether the marriage was consummated or not. **Evidence:** Allah says: "And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind - they shall wait four months and ten [days]. And when they have fulfilled their term, then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable manner" [Al-Baqarah: 234] There is no specification that exempts non-consummated marriages from this verse.