And she may do anything else that is permissible for her outside the waiting period, such as speaking to men whom she needs to address, provided she is properly covered, and other such matters.

What I have described is the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, which the wives of the Companions followed when their husbands died, as did his own wives. Unlike other women, his wives may never marry anyone after him, whether during the waiting period or afterwards. Muslims must honour them as a man honours his own mother. However, no man other than a mahram (unmarriageable relative) may be alone with any one of them or travel with her. Allah knows best.

He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was asked:

Concerning a woman observing the waiting period following her husband’s death who has not remained in her home during it, but goes out for necessities recognized by Islamic law: must she repeat the waiting period? Does she incur sin by doing this?

He replied:

The waiting period ends once four months and ten days have elapsed from the time of death, and she does not have to make it up. If she went out for something necessary and spent the nights only in her own home, there is no blame upon her.

If, however, she went out without need and spent the night away from home without need, or spent the night away without necessity, or failed to observe the prescribed mourning, she should seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him for that. She does not have to repeat the waiting period.