Rights of Widow in Islam
Who is a Widow?
The word “widow” refers to the women who have lost her life partner to an accident or due to any other reason. A widow woman not only loses her husband, but a companion, a lover, her financial support, a father to her children and guardian of her home. Being a widow in this world is psychological as well as emotional suffering for a woman. This is because after losing her husband, she is also responsible to play the role of a father for her children. And being a single parent, it comes with a lot of challenges.
Most of the people in our society are least concerned about widows and their hardships but Islam has clearly stated the rights of widow in the Quran and hadith both.
Narrated Safwan bin Salim that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
"The one who looks after and works for a widow and for a poor person, is like a warrior fighting for Allah's Cause or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all the night" [Sahih Al-Bukhari].
Knowing the Rights of Widows
No woman wishes to become a widow, but life does not always go the way we want. For a widow, life doesn’t remain the same after losing her husband. Thus, it is important for us to know their rights and support them during this hardship.
1. Giving Them their Financial Rights
Islam has laid great importance on helping the needy, poor and widow. As Allah has mentioned in the Quran:
“And they feed, for the love of Allah, the poor, the orphan, and the captive…” [76:8].
When a woman’s husband dies, the widow is entitled to be given her due financial and other rights by the family members. She has full right on her husband’s inheritance, and no one has the right to take it without her permission. If the husband has not left enough amounts that could fulfil her and the children needs, then it is an obligation on the relatives and society to support her and give her charity.
According to the Islamic Law (Sharee‘ah), a share from the husband’s property is the right of the widow. The share of the wife is one-fourth if they have no child but if he leaves a child behind she gets one-eight share. As Allah (swt) said in the Quran:
“And for the wives is one fourth if you leave no child. But if you leave a child, then for them is an eighth of what you leave” [4:12].
2. Right to have a Shelter
Widows are also granted the right to have a house and a shelter for herself and her children in Islam. If the husband does not leave any property or a house, she must be given a proper amount from her husband share in the family property for providing them with a home. As they are in special need of shelter other than any other inheritor.
Sahl ibn Sa’d reported: The Prophet (PBUH), said,
“Myself and the caretaker of an orphan will be in Paradise like this,” and he held his two fingers together” [Sahih Al-Bukahri]
3. The Right to Remarry
As our religion teaches us to keep a balance in our life and learn the right way to live, it also allows widow to remarry considering the human nature. But there are certain rules and boundaries are set for her. For example, women who lose their husband, must complete her “Iddah” (waiting period) before going for second marriage. Iddah is for four months ten days or until the delivery in case of pregnancy.
As Allah (swt) mentioned in the Quran:
“And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind – they, [the wives, shall] wait four months and ten [days]. And when they have fulfilled their term, then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable manner. And Allah is [fully] Acquainted with what you do” [2:234].
Completion of Iddah is an obligation on widows but if a woman chooses to not get married again for her children she will be rewarded immensely.
4. Living Her Life According to Her Own Will
After the completion of her Iddah, a widow is permitted to live her life to her own will and do not isolate or estrange herself from the society. She has the full right to live a normal life by mixing with the society. Grieving for long is not encouraged. She must learn to be strong for her children and work on lessening her sadness by taking care of her children with love and kindness. She is allowed to work in order to provide financial support to herself and her children.
To sum up, it can be said that Islam has clearly stated the financial, emotional and psychological rights of widow and it is our responsibility to take care of her and her children by giving them their rights.
