iddah the waiting period, step by step

When your husband has passed away

May Allah have mercy on him, and make this time easy for you. You don’t need to know everything today. Start with this week; the rest can wait.

Not safe, or too much to carry alone today? What to do now →

ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ

Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allāh, and indeed to Him we will return."

Qurʾān, al-Baqarah 2:156

This week

What this week asks of you

  1. Where you will sleep tonight

    The iddah is usually kept in the home you shared. If it is not safe or you cannot stay, the schools allow moving.

    Read more: Where you will sleep tonight
  2. Who brings food and does the errands

    Let family and friends cook and run errands this week, so you can rest and grieve.

    Read more: Who brings food and does the errands
  3. Telling work, and asking for leave

    Some states require bereavement leave, and you can ask for a religious accommodation for the months of your iddah.

    Read more: Telling work, and asking for leave
  4. The date to count from

    Write down the date he died. If the news reached you later, the ruling page shows what the schools say about counting.

    Read more: The date to count from

See the whole week

Your questions, in the order they come

Iddah (also spelled iddat or idda). Each answer shows the four schools and its sources.

Things you may have heard

Looking for divorce instead? After a divorce →