Q: A couple used to host students studying as an income, where the students stay in the house and a cooked meal is provided and a place to sleep.
The husband has passed on and the wife is now under Iddah. She is also in her late 60's. Can she continue doing this work as an income and whilst under Iddah?
A: If the students are staying in the same house, then she should no longer keep them with her in the same house as it is not permissible for her to live with strangers in the same home (without her mahram being present).
Through living together in this manner, the laws of pardah will be violated and there is fear of sin and fitnah taking place.
However, if they are being accommodated in a separate part of the home which has a partition and they will not be able to see her, then it is permissible for her to allow them to rent in her house as well as cook food for them for a stipulated fee.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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