Can I go to the doctor, the store, or drive my children to school while I am in iddah?

Sources

1. 1

   Ibn ʿĀbidīn, Radd al-Muḥtār ʿalā al-Durr al-Mukhtār (Ḥanafī), 3:536

   Open: Ibn ʿĀbidīn, Radd al-Muḥtār ʿalā al-Durr al-Mukhtār (Ḥanafī), 3:536 ↗ · checked Oct 18, 2026

   Read the passage: source 1

   وَوَجْهُ الدَّفْعِ أَنَّ مُعْتَدَّةَ الْمَوْتِ لَمَّا كَانَتْ فِي الْعَادَةِ مُحْتَاجَةً إلَى الْخُرُوجِ لِأَجْلِ أَنْ تَكْتَسِبَ لِلنَّفَقَةِ قَالُوا: إنَّهَا تَخْرُجُ فِي النَّهَارِ وَبَعْضِ اللَّيْلِ، بِخِلَافِ الْمُطَلَّقَةِ. وَأَمَّا الْخُرُوجُ لِلضَّرُورَةِ فَلَا فَرْقَ فِيهِ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا نَصُّوا عَلَيْهِ فِيمَا يَأْتِي، فَالْمُرَادُ بِهِ هُنَا غَيْرُ الضَّرُورَةِ، وَلِهَذَا بَعْدَمَا أَطْلَقَ فِي كَافِي الْحَاكِمِ مَنْعَ خُرُوجِ الْمُطَلَّقَةِ قَالَ: وَالْمُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا تَخْرُجُ بِالنَّهَارِ لِحَاجَتِهَا وَلَا تَبِيتُ فِي غَيْرِ مَنْزِلِهَا

   Ibn ʿĀbidīn: because the widow is usually in need of going out to earn her maintenance, they said she goes out by day and part of the night, unlike the divorced woman; going out for necessity is the same for both. al-Kāfī of al-Ḥākim says: the widow goes out by day for her need and does not spend the night anywhere but her home.

2. 2

   Ibn Qudāmah, al-Mughnī (Ḥanbalī), Maktabat al-Qāhirah edition, 8:163

   Open: Ibn Qudāmah, al-Mughnī (Ḥanbalī), Maktabat al-Qāhirah edition, 8:163 ↗ · checked Oct 18, 2026

   Read the passage: source 2

   (٦٣٩٧) فَصْلٌ: وَلِلْمُعْتَدَّةِ الْخُرُوجُ فِي حَوَائِجِهَا نَهَارًا، سَوَاءٌ كَانَتْ مُطَلَّقَةً أَوْ مُتَوَفًّى عَنْهَا. لِمَا رَوَى «جَابِرٌ قَالَ طَلُقَتْ خَالَتِي ثَلَاثًا، فَخَرَجَتْ تَجُذُّ نَخْلَهَا، فَلَقِيَهَا رَجُلٌ، فَنَهَاهَا، فَذَكَرَتْ ذَلِكَ لِلنَّبِيِّ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فَقَالَ اُخْرُجِي، فَجُذِّي نَخْلَك، لَعَلَّك أَنْ تَصَّدَّقِي مِنْهُ، أَوْ تَفْعَلِي خَيْرًا» . رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ، وَأَبُو دَاوُد. وَرَوَى مُجَاهِدٌ، قَالَ: «اُسْتُشْهِدَ رِجَالٌ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ فَجَاءَتْ نِسَاؤُهُمْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - وَقُلْنَ، يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - نَسْتَوْحِشُ بِاللَّيْلِ، أَفَنَبِيتُ عِنْدَ إحْدَانَا، فَإِذَا أَصْبَحْنَا بَادَرْنَا إلَى بُيُوتِنَا؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -: تَحَدَّثْنَ عِنْدَ إحْدَاكُنَّ، حَتَّى إذَا أَرَدْتُنَّ النَّوْمَ، فَلْتَؤُبْ كُلُّ وَاحِدَةٍ إلَى بَيْتِهَا» . وَلَيْسَ لَهَا الْمَبِيتُ فِي غَيْرِ بَيْتِهَا، وَلَا الْخُرُوجُ لَيْلًا، إلَّا لِضَرُورَةٍ؛ لِأَنَّ اللَّيْلَ مَظِنَّةُ الْفَسَادِ، بِخِلَافِ النَّهَارِ، فَإِنَّهُ مَظِنَّةُ قَضَاءِ الْحَوَائِج وَالْمَعَاشِ، وَشِرَاءِ مَا يُحْتَاجُ إلَيْهِ.

   The woman in iddah may go out for her needs by day, divorced or widowed, because of Jābir's report about his aunt harvesting her palms, and a report from Mujāhid about the widows of Uḥud (talk together at one house, then each goes home to sleep). She may not spend the night anywhere but her home, nor go out at night except for necessity, because night is when harm is feared, unlike the day, when needs, livelihood and shopping are done.

3. 3

   IslamQA 4706, "What Must the Mourning Widow Abide By" (contemporary fatwā; source given on the page: Shaikh ibn Baz)

   Open: IslamQA 4706, "What Must the Mourning Widow Abide By" (contemporary fatwā; source given on the page: Shaikh ibn Baz) ↗ · checked Oct 18, 2026

   Read the passage: source 3

   However, there are many other acts that the general masses believe or have fabricated concerning a mourning woman. For example, they say that she cannot talk to anyone, she may not talk on the phone, she can only take a shower once a week, she cannot walk barefoot in her house, she cannot go out under the light of the moon, and other superstitions that are simply false. There is no basis for any of these. She may walk barefoot or with shoes in her house. She fulfills her needs in the house, such as cooking her food and the food of her guests. She may go out in the light of the moon on her roof or in her garden. She may wash herself whenever she wishes. She may speak to anyone she wishes as long as it is not suspicious speech. ... She must wear clothing which is not beautiful or attractive, regardless of whether it be black, green or otherwise.

4. 4

   IslamQA 286707, "(widow attending her child’s wedding)" (contemporary fatwā; source given on the page: Islam Q&A, quoting Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz 22/199)

   Open: IslamQA 286707, "(widow attending her child’s wedding)" (contemporary fatwā; source given on the page: Islam Q&A, quoting Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz 22/199) ↗ · checked Oct 18, 2026

   Read the passage: source 4

   She may go out when needed, such as to go to the courthouse or the hospital or the market. ... there is nothing wrong with your mother attending it, if she avoids wearing adornment and perfume, because her going out in that case is going out for a need. But she must stay overnight in her own house.

5. 5

   IslamQA 108229, "Can Women in `Iiddah Go Out to Pray Tarawih and Go to Work?" (contemporary fatwā; source given on the page: Islam Q&A)

   Open: IslamQA 108229, "Can Women in `Iiddah Go Out to Pray Tarawih and Go to Work?" (contemporary fatwā; source given on the page: Islam Q&A) ↗ · checked Oct 18, 2026

   Read the passage: source 5

   The woman who is observing `iddah following the death of her husband should not go out at night except in cases of necessity. Your going out to pray Tarawih is not a necessity. ... It is permissible for the woman who is observing `iddah following the death of her husband to go out during the day to work, but when night comes she has to stay at home.