Women's Issues

Q: What are the faraiz of a wife after the death of her husband?

Q: I am 47 years old and married for 19 years. This is my third marriage (I am the only wife). I was married twice in my twenty's and got fasagh for both (valid reasons). The problem is at that stage of my life I had no guidance from anyone. I have a father and a brother but they never explained to me right and wrong, the only Islamic thing my father spoke to me about was to wear a scarf and I thought that makes you a Muslim. My mother is a revert and my father and brother also never guided her. I never made ibadah, never knew much about the deen as my father also didn't live and practise deen. Now I am coming back to my actual dilemma. Alhamdulillah I have transformed tremendously since I married my current husband of 19 years and he has been my guide my anchor. I am really living and fulfilling my Deen. There was a topic the other day about iddah and the explanation about the punishment of not observing idaah properly. Therefore I need advise. For both marriages I never observed iddah because of ignorance, no one explained it and maybe they did and I didn't understand. I now want to make things right but I need guidance. Please give me advise on this matter.

Q: My Father recently passed away. I am now confused as to what is now forbidden for my mother for the next 4 months 10 days period. I know jewellery, accessories, kohl, perfume is not allowed. Can you please clear my doubts with a hadeeth or a ruling in Quran.

1. My mother is insisting on wearing only white while I feel regular, humble, simple everyday clothes are allowed. We are Indians and she wears fully covering shalwar kameez and covers her hair with a dupatta/shawl. Can you specify which colors are forbidden?
2. She refuses to speak to anyone on the phone and not involve herself in the day to day activities of the house like ordering  groceries, meat and billing e.t.c. even while staying indoors.
3. She also feels eating with the family together is not allowed and prefers to eat alone.
4. Moreover after a husband passes away my relatives have told her that the nikah becomes invalid/over and touching my father after he passed away and seeing my father in his funeral shroud was a mistake and she should have been inside or at a distance. Please clarify if the nikaah is broken through some hadith. Her other doubt is if nikah is over how can she live on my father's money and on property that they both brought.
5. She also refuses to step out on the verandah which is inside our house boundary wall and get some sunlight and stays in a dimly lit room throughout the day and night. Is going out within the boundary of your home allowed just to get some fresh air.
6. Moreover after 40 days of my fathers passing my paternal and maternal family gifted my mother new clothes. I personally thought this was hurtful and a Hindu custom and hence is biddah. Please clarify.

Can you please describe in detail as to what is/is not allowed?

Q: I am a 23 years old girl studying in a medical university. I wanted to ask that can I continue my studies in the medical university? Is it allowed
in Islam to get education? The university is co-education but I don't talk to any male. I go to university in proper parda so can I continue it? I have heard that a female cannot go out of home without a mahram. As I don't have a brother, or a husband nor can my father go with me so in such a case is it permitted in Islam to go?

Q:

1. What is the satr of a woman in front of her mahrams and non-mahrams?

2. Is it permissible for a woman to wear short sleeve clothing in front of her mahrams?

Q: I wanted to know whether women are permitted to use itr and perfume inside and outside the house?

Q: A couple makes nikah and then spends time together in private, but with no rukhsati taking place. Then they divorce. Where should the idda take place, can it take place at the girls parental home since she never left it (she never moved to the husbands home)?

Q: I am a single female and have been studying something in the business field not really realising the extent of this. I started working at a company
recently and there is a male senior who I have to approach when I do not know what to do. 

1. Should I be leaving this job?
2. If don't end up working after the studying will it be a waste I commited?

Q: What is the duration of iddat of a woman who has been given talaaq from her husband who later discovered herself pregnant, however the pregnancy is a result of a relationship she had during her marriage. She conceived from another man before her husband gave her talaaq. Should she observe iddat for the duration of the pregnancy or only for 3 months?

Q: Please advise: my 2 sisters were both divorced and did not sit or keep Idaat. Few years later they both got married again to different partners. What is the consequences for not keeping Idaat?