21st November 2020
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Question: A woman has been given a divorce. She really can’t stand the man because of his aggression and constant threat. She fears she will not be able to pass her Iddah in his house. Can she now spend her Iddah in her own parents’ house or will she need to spend it elsewhere?
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
In reference to your query, staying at the husband’s house during iddat (waiting period) is the right of Allāh Almighty which must be fulfilled. Allāh states in the Quran, “Do not drive them out from their homes (during the waiting period) and neither should they leave…”[1] She is not permitted to leave except due to a genuine need like for instance the husband is morally corrupted (fisq).[2]
The husband and wife should initially partition the house and avoid entering each other’s part to avoid confrontation. If this is not possible then, a person who is mahram to both of them and who will be able to protect her from any harm and ensure that she spends her iddat safely should stay in the house with them. If this is not possible then the husband should leave the house throughout the duration of her iddat. If he is not willing to do this and she is near certain that due to his moral corruption he will commit aggression against like physically beat her, then she is allowed to relocate elsewhere to observe her iddat as a necessity.[3] She may either move back into her parents’ home or live separately to compete her waiting period.
[Allāh Knows Best]
Written by: Apa Sajeda Reviewed by: Mufti Abdul Waheed
Attested by: Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Surah Talaq [65:1]
[2] Tafseer Mazhari, vol 9, p. 318, commentary of Surah Talaq [65:1]
لا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ اى المطلقات رجعيات كن او بوائن مِنْ بُيُوتِهِنَّ اى من مساكنهن فى وقت الطلاق وهى بيوت الأزواج حتى تنقضى عدتهن وَلا يَخْرُجْنَ باختيارهن ومن هذه الاية يثبت انه لا يجوز للمطلقة مطلقا رجعية كانت او بائنة الخروج من بيت الزوج ليلا ونهارا الا بضرورة فان الضرورة مستثناة فى العبادات وهى تبيح المحذورات والضرورة مثل انهدام البيت او خوف السرقة او عدم وجدان كراء البيت او ضيق المنزل عليهما او كون الزوج فاسقا
[3] Fatawa Hindiyyah, Kitāb Al-Talaaq, Baab Al-Iddat’, vol 1, p. 535
وَإِذَا انْتَقَلَتْ لِعُذْرٍ يَكُونُ سُكْنَاهَا فِي الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي انْتَقَلَتْ إلَيْهِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ كَوْنِهَا فِي الْمَنْزِلِ الَّذِي انْتَقَلَتْ مِنْهُ فِي حُرْمَةِ الْخُرُوجِ عَنْهُ كَذَا فِي الْبَدَائِعِ.
فَإِنْ كَانَ فَاسِقًا يُخَافُ عَلَيْهَا مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهَا تَخْرُجُ وَتَسْكُنُ مَنْزِلًا آخَرَ، وَإِنْ خَرَجَ الزَّوْجُ وَتَرَكَهَا فَهُوَ أَوْلَى، وَإِنْ أَرَادَ الْقَاضِي أَنْ يَجْعَلَ مَعَهَا امْرَأَةً حُرَّةً ثِقَةً تَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْحَيْلُولَةِ فَهُوَ حَسَنٌ كَذَا فِي الْمُحِيطِ
Kasāni, Badā’i Sanāi, Kitāb Al-Talaaq, Fasl Fi Ahkaam Al-iddat , vol 3 p. 206
وَإِذَا انْتَقَلَتْ لِعُذْرٍ يَكُونُ سُكْنَاهَا فِي الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي انْتَقَلَتْ إلَيْهِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ كَوْنِهَا فِي الْمَنْزِلِ الَّذِي انْتَقَلَتْ مِنْهُ فِي حُرْمَةِ الْخُرُوجِ عَنْهُ؛ لِأَنَّ الِانْتِقَالَ مِنْ الْأَوَّلِ إلَيْهِ كَانَ لِعُذْرٍ فَصَارَ الْمَنْزِلُ الَّذِي انْتَقَلَتْ إلَيْهِ كَأَنَّهُ مَنْزِلُهَا مِنْ الْأَصْلِ فَلَزِمَهَا الْمُقَامُ فِيهِ حَتَّى تَنْقَضِيَ الْعِدَّةُ
Ibn Al-Humam, Fathul Qadeer, Kitab Al-Talaaq, Baab Al-iddat , vol 4, pg 344-345
……..لِأَنَّ هَذَا انْتِقَالٌ بِعُذْرٍ، وَالْعِبَادَاتُ تُؤَثِّرُ فِيهَا الْأَعْذَارُ
وَكَذَا فِي كُلِّ مَوْضِعٍ يَتَحَقَّقُ عُذْرٌ يُبِيحُ الْخُرُوجَ، الْأَوْلَى أَنْ يَخْرُجَ هُوَ