Mourning Period (Ihdad)

**Definition of Ihdad:** **Linguistic:** Abstention. It is said "haddah" or "muhiddah" when a woman abandons adornment and perfume. **Technical:** It is the woman abstaining from adornment, perfume, and anything else that makes her desirable and invites intimacy. --- **Evidence for the Obligation of Ihdad:** Ihdad is obligatory for a widow. Umm Habibah رضي الله عنها reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: "It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to mourn for a dead person more than three nights, except for a husband - four months and ten [days]" [Bukhari & Muslim]. Umm 'Atiyyah al-Ansariyyah رضي الله عنها said: "We were forbidden to mourn for a dead person more than three days, except for a husband - four months and ten days. We were (forbidden) to apply kohl, to use perfume, and to wear dyed clothes except 'asb cloth..." [Bukhari & Muslim]. --- **Obligations for the Mourning Woman:** 1. **Abstaining from Adornment and Perfume:** She must avoid wearing brightly colored clothes, must not apply kohl, must not wear jewelry of gold, silver or otherwise, and must not use any dyes or cosmetics. **Evidence:** Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The woman whose husband has died should not wear yellow-dyed clothes, nor clothes dyed with red safflower, nor jewelry. She should not dye herself (with henna) nor apply kohl" [Abu Dawud, Nasa'i - authenticated by Al-Albani]. 2. **Must Stay in the House:** She must remain in the dwelling where she is observing her waiting period and not leave except for need, as established by the hadith of Furay'ah bint Malik رضي الله عنها mentioned earlier. --- **Note on 'Asb Cloth:** 'Asb is a type of cloth where the thread is dyed before weaving. It is an exception because it is not considered showy adornment.