- The wife of a missing man waits the period stipulated earlier with regard to his estate, after which she observes the ʿiddah of a widow, and she does not need a judge’s ruling to do so.
If she then marries someone else and the first husband returns before the new marriage is consummated, she must be restored to him. Should he return after consummation, he may reclaim her (1) on the basis of the original contract, provided he does not have intercourse with her until she completes the ʿiddah of the second husband. He may also leave her with the second husband; in that case he is entitled to recover the amount of the bridal gift he had paid, and the second husband must renew his contract with her.
A woman whose husband dies, or who is divorced while he is absent, begins her waiting period from the moment of separation (2), even if she does not observe mourning.
The waiting period for a woman who has been slept with under a mistaken belief of permissibility, through fornication, or in an invalid marriage (3) is the same as that of a divorcee.
If a woman contracts a marriage during her ʿiddah, that first waiting period is not cut short until the second husband consummates the marriage with her. If he then separates from her, she resumes the remainder of the first ʿiddah, and after completing it, she begins a new one for the second husband.
Section
[On Mourning Restrictions]
Observing mourning (iḥdād) is obligatory during the waiting period that follows a husband’s death.
It consists of refraining from anything that invites suitors or encourages men to look at her—such as adornment, perfume, beautification with henna or decorative dye, jewelry, and black kohl.
The ʿiddah of a widow must be observed in the dwelling where it first became obligatory; however, if she moved because of fear (4), was forced out, or relocated to protect a lawful right, she may then live wherever she wishes.