A woman spending the `Iddah in her husband's house

Q 2: A few days before my father's death, he asked us to move to an old house of ours that was not suitable for occupancy. After his death, my mother stayed at this house and did not want to go out. I am going to be married, and this old house is unsuitable to live in. Can I move my mother to the new house?

A: The original ruling concerning a widow is that she should spend the `Iddah (woman's prescribed waiting period after divorce or widowhood) in the house where she was at the time of her husband's death. She should not go out except for a necessity, such as going to the hospital and doing the shopping if there is no one else to do it on her behalf, according to what was narrated by Furay`ah bint Malik who said, My husband went out seeking his slaves who ran away. When they met him at Al-Qudum, they murdered him. I was informed of this when I was in a faraway house that belongs to my family. I asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) whether I should return to my people, for I knew that he was murdered when I was in a faraway house that belongs to my family; he did not leave any maintenance for me; and that house (where I am staying) is not his. If I move to live with my family, this will be better for me. The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, "You can do." When I came out, he called for me, or he commanded someone to call me and, therefore, I was called. He said to me, "Stay in the house where you knew of your husband's death until the `Iddah comes to an end." I passed my `Iddah there for four months and ten days. `Uthman asked me about it; I told him; and he applied it. (Part No. 20; Page No. 441)  (Narrated by the Five Compilers of Hadith [Imams Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhy, Al-Nasa'y and Ibn Majah], and ranked as Sahih [authentic] by Al-Tirmidhy) Al-Nasa'y and Ibn Majah did not deny the inquiry of `Uthman about it. Thus, there is no need for your mother to move to the new house for the mentioned purpose until her `Iddah comes to an end.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.