in the daytime. Another example is a student who goes out to study during the day, not at night. Another is when she feels distressed and goes during the day only to her female neighbor’s home for companionship, since such distress may develop into psychological illness. Another is when she goes out to visit her sick father. This is a need both on her father’s part and on her own: as for her, she will be anxious if she has not seen her father’s condition with her own eyes; and as for her father, a parent’s heart longs for his child. Thus, we say: there is nothing wrong with her going out to visit her father when he is ill, or her mother, or one of her relatives. She may go out by day, but not by night. The reason for distinguishing between night and day is that people are out and about during the daytime, so she is safer; whereas at night people are indoors, and the danger to her is greater.
His statement, “If she abandons mourning, she sins,” means that if she abandons what mourning requires of her—such as wearing perfume, beautifying herself, wearing jewelry, or adornment—then she is sinful, because she has neglected an obligation.
His statement, “she sins,” means that she has incurred sin. It does not necessarily mean that the sin will actually befall her, as some express it in their definition: “An obligation is that whose doer is rewarded and whose neglecter is punished.” What they mean is that he deserves punishment, but it is not inevitable, since Allah may pardon him. For Allah says:
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating others with Him, but He forgives anything less than that for whom He wills.” [al-Nisa 4:48]
Is there a remedy for this sin? Yes: its remedy is repentance to Allah—namely, regretting what has passed and resolving not to return to it in the future.
His statement, “Her waiting period is completed when its prescribed time has elapsed,” is because mourning is not a condition for the validity of the waiting period; rather, it is an obligation. Therefore, even if she abandons mourning, her waiting period ends once its time has elapsed.