Question:
If a woman’s husband passes away her ‘iddah (waiting period) is four months. What can she not do within it except remarry?
Answer:
She may not remarry during her ‘iddah and is compelled to abstain from beautification. She is therefore not allowed to indulge in any form of beautification or perfume for that matter.
She must completely abstain from beautification and perfume. She must not apply eyeliner or wear extravagant clothing whereby one who sees her says ‘This attire is not befitting of a woman in her ‘idaah nor a woman who has abandoned beautification’.
Question:
In some countries, it is customary to prevent her from perfume, eye-liner, henna and to restrict her to wearing white clothing. Is this legislated in our laws?
Answer:
As for the firsts, Yes. She cannot apply perfume, eye-liner, henna, or any other beauty appliances (see Muslim: Hadith Number 938).
In regards to the white clothing, this is not from our religion. Rather, she wears what she wishes from inextravagant clothing without being restricted to one color, like white or black.
All she must do is avoid extravagant clothing and wear what is customarily known to be inextravagant.
Answered by: Shaykh Abu Bilaal Al-Hadhramy – may Allah preserve him
Source: https://t.me/abubilalhami/3041
Answered on: 5 Rabbi Al-Awal 1441 (2 November 2019)
Translated by: Abou Sufian Saami ibn Daniel Al-Ghaani