(234) “Those among you who die and leave wives behind—their wives shall observe a waiting period of four months and ten days. When they have reached the end of their term, there is no blame upon you for what they do concerning themselves in an honorable manner. Allah is fully aware of all that you do.”

That is, when a husband dies, his wife must wait for four months and ten days. The wisdom behind this is that pregnancy becomes evident within four months, with fetal movement beginning at the start of the fifth month. This general ruling is qualified in the case of pregnant women, whose waiting period ends upon delivery. Likewise, the waiting period of a bondwoman is half that of a free woman: two months and five days.

His words, “When they have reached the end of their term,” mean when their waiting period has ended. “There is no blame upon you for what they do concerning themselves”—that is, by resuming adornment and the use of perfume—“in an honorable manner,” meaning in a way that is neither forbidden nor disliked.

This establishes that a woman whose husband has died must observe mourning throughout her waiting period, unlike other divorced women and women separated from their husbands. There is scholarly consensus on this.

“Allah is fully aware of all that you do.” That is, He knows your deeds—their outward and inward aspects, their great and subtle details—and He will recompense you for them.

By addressing the guardians in His words, “There is no blame upon you for what they do concerning themselves,” ⦗105⦘ the verse indicates that a guardian must oversee a woman’s affairs, prevent her from doing what is impermissible, and compel her to fulfill what is obligatory. He is addressed with this responsibility, and it is incumbent upon him.