Woman in iddat leaving the home due to fear of being alone

Q: A girl is currently sitting iddat in her father and mother in law's house.

Her ex husband is a total lost case. The ex husband's parents have decided to let her (their daughter in law) sit her iddat in their own house because she has no where else to go. The ex husband is not staying in the same house as his ex wife.

Also the girl's family, all of them are not on Deen. They are mostly involved in gangsterism and drugs. She has absolutely no where else to go. The only safe place for her to live and spend her iddat is at the home of her parents in law.

The question is, since the girl is spending her iddat at the home of her parents in law, so when they (the parent in laws) both need to go out together for some of their necessities, can she accompany them? They say that they cannot leave her alone at home, as the area is a bit dangerous and also she is scared to stay alone.

So are they allowed to take her with them when they both need to go out?

A: While a woman is sitting in iddat, it is not permissible for her to leave the home. If she leaves the home, she will be sinful as she is violating the law of Shariah. Hence, in this case, it is not permissible for her to accompany her in-laws when they go shopping. Alternate arrangements should be made by the family to ensure that she is safe while remaining in the home (e.g. another family member or the female domestic worker could be at home with her).

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

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