Islamic Rulings for Sisters

1) Will the Ꜥidda (waiting period) have to be repeated?

What do scholars of Islam say regarding the following:

Our sister was divorced thrice, and she is undertaking her Ꜥidda currently. One day, she went out of her home to participate in a meal in her brother’s house nearby. Some say her Ꜥidda is invalidated by exiting the home and she must restart it. Likewise, some prevent her from going onto the roof of the house, saying she cannot come under the open sky. They also say she cannot meet her brothers.

Please provide Islamic guidance on whether our sister can exit her home during Ꜥidda or not. If she cannot, has her Ꜥidda been nullified and must she restart it? Can she go on to the roof under the open sky?

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

ꜤIdda is the term given to a specific period of time. After divorce or the passing of her husband, a woman must pass a specific period of time in her home with some restrictions. During this period, she does not have permission to leave her home without necessity. If she does leave, she is sinful. This has been strictly prohibited. However, if she does exit her home without necessity, it will not affect the Ꜥidda itself. It will not nullify her Ꜥidda or require her to begin it again. Having said that, she is sinful for having left her home, and it is necessary for her to repent.

A woman is allowed to go onto the roof of her own home during Ꜥidda. Likewise, if the courtyard of the house is not shared, she may enter the courtyard also. There is no obstacle in her coming under the open sky either. This is conditional on there being no unveiling in entering the courtyard or going onto the roof. There is no harm in her meeting her brothers and sisters in her home where she is performing her Ꜥidda.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

Answered by: Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari

2) Will women also perform raml?

What do scholars of Islam say regarding the following:

Will women also perform raml during ṭawāf, just as men do?

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

It is Sunna to perform raml in the first three circumambulations of a ṭawāf which is followed by saꜤī (like the ṭawāf of ʿumrah etc.). The meaning of raml is to move swiftly with short steps, whilst moving one’s shoulders, the way courageous people do. Yet, it should be remembered that this is specific to men. Women will not perform raml. Instead, women will walk at a medium pace, as this ensures more veiling for them. This is the same ruling in relation to proceeding quickly between the two green markers in saꜤī. Here too, women will walk at a medium pace, without running.