Widow’s Term (‘Iddat)

LESSON # 280 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Widow’s Term (‘Iddat)

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse – 234    of  286, Section – 30 (Part - 2)

And such of you as die and leave behind them wives, they (the wives) shall wait, keeping themselves apart, four months and ten days. Then when they reach the term (prescribed for them) then there is no sin for you in aught that they may do with themselves in decency. And Allah is Aware of what ye do.

Wallaziina  yutawaffawna  minkum  wa  yazaruuna  ‘azwaajany-yatarab-basna  bi-‘anfusi-hinna  ‘arba-‘ata  ‘ash-hurinw-wa  ‘ashraa.  Fa-‘izaa  balagna  ‘ajalahunna  falaa  junaaha  ‘alay-kum  fiimaa  fa-‘alna  fiii  ‘anfusihinna  bil-ma’-ruuf.  Wallaahu  bimaa  ta’-maluuna  Khabiir.

Lesson

yatarab-basna – (they shall wait, keeping apart), it aims that after the death of husbands, the wives will keep themselves in waiting. Technical name of this period of waiting is ‘Term’ (‘iddat). The woman who is divorced, her term is complete three months and the widow’s term is four months plus ten days. If the widow is pregnant, then her term is until the delivery of her child. To dress, decorate or embellish (make-up) is not lawful for the woman during the days of term.

Other religions of the world did not show any proper favor for the widow. Moreover Hinduism ordered the widow to burn alive in the fire (to be sati). Islam has granted the right to the widow to remain alive with full opportunities and determined this order that the women shall wait, keeping themselves apart, just four months and ten days with effect from the dates of their husbands’ death. She should not draw attention towards her marriage and it’s related other matters. She should not decorate herself during this term. If she feels that she is pregnant, then her term will change, and she would have to prevent herself from re-marriage until delivery.

When the term of widowhood will end, then there is no objection in sending the message for re-marriage. Here it has been addressed the entire nation, that is to say; there is no sin or objection for keeping lawful to re-marry like this matter. It has also cleared that if any person does something unlawful, which is against the precepts of religion, then it is others’ duty that they should challenge him according to their spirit and power. Otherwise it will be sin also for them. So they should look in to the matter that after the term of widowhood, which act will be done by the woman, that should not be out of the Divine Law and custom. Remember! God Almighty is full Aware about your deeds. Your all actions (good or bad) will be reckoned on the Day of Resurrection and you will be rewarded or punished according to your character roll.    

Transliteration in Roman Script & English Translation of Holy Qur’an written by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore and Paraphrase collected from Dars e Qur’an published By Idara Islah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated by Muhammad Sharif)