Source : Ali-Gomaa.com / 29 May 2013

Question:

I am a teacher and my husband passed away; is it permissible for me to return to my work before the mourning period for my husband ends? Please note that it is the beginning of the school year and I am not eligible for any kind of leave.

Answer:

It is established in Islamic law that a woman in the mourning period for the death of her husband is not to adorn herself, use perfume or engage in any manifestations of joy. Moreover, during this time she must spend the night in the marital house. Allah Almighty says:

“If any of you die and leave widows, the widows should wait for four months and ten nights before remarrying. When they have completed this set time, you will not be blamed for anything they may reasonably choose to do with themselves. God is fully aware of what you do.”[Al-Baqarah, 234]

It is permissible for a woman in her waiting period to exit her house in the day or part of the night to run errands and fulfill her needs, but she should spend the night at her home. Ibn Qudama said, "A woman in her waiting period, whether a divorcee or a widow, may go out by day to fulfill her needs." Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that during her waiting period of a thrice pronounced divorce, his aunt [exited her house] to cut down her palm trees. When a man approached her and forbade her from doing so, she went to see the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and related the incident to him. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told her, 'Go and cut down your palm trees; you may give out in charity from them or do [an act of] kindness' [Recorded by al-Nisa`i and Abu Dawud].

Mujahid narrated that after the day of Uhud, the widows of the martyred men gathered in one house. They approached the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)  and said, "O Messenger of Allah! We get lonely at night so we spend the night at one house and return to our homes in the morning." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied,"Chat together at the house of one of you, but each is to return to her house when it is time to sleep" [Recorded by Al-Baihaqi in his Sunan].

The ruling

It is permissible for the inquirer to return to her job during her waiting period provided that she spends the night at the marital house.

Question:

 Is it prohibited to remove the hair exceeding from the eyebrows? Is it prohibited to remove the hair between the two eyebrows?

Answer:

 Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated through Abdu Allah ibn Mas'oud, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“ Allah curses the woman who perform tattoos, get tattoos, the woman who pluck the eyebrows of others, and those women who get their eyebrows plucked, and part their teeth for adornment; who change Allah’s creation.”

 The statement of Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reached a woman from Bani Asad who was called Um Ya'cub. She came to him and said: "It came to my knowledge that you have cursed so and so." He replied: "Why would I not curse the one the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) cursed. The one mentioned in the book of Allah the Almighty [Meaning the Prophet] Allah says:

 “So accept whatever the Messenger gives you, and abstain from whatever he forbids you.”[59:7]

 • Plucking:

 The ruling of plucking parts of the face other than the eyebrows varies between prohibition and permissibility. Upon this the scholars based their difference.

 Important Terms:

 • Al-Namsa: is the one who plucks her or others eyebrows.

 • Al-Mutnamsa: is the one who orders others to do so.

 • The ruling for unmarried woman:

 Threatening one to with the curse of Allah and his Prophet is a sign that an action is from the Major sins. In Islamic law when such a threat is issued it is evidence that the act is a major sin and a sign that the act is impermissible.

 It is forbidden for a non married woman to have her eye brows plucked, except for the purpose of treatment, removing a defect, or refining excessive hair. Things other than this are prohibited.

 • The ruling for a married woman:

 It is permissible for a married woman to pluck her eyebrows with her husband's permission according to the majority of scholars, since, it is considered from what are classified in Islamic law as adornments[Ar: Zenah].

 The narration of Bukra bint 'Uqba was used as evidence, when she asked'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about plucking her eyebrows, 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) responded: “If you are married, and by plucking your eyebrows you will make them attractive, then do it". Ahkam al-Nis'a Ibn al-Jawsi p.49

 Al-Tabari mentioned a narration through the wife of Abu Ishaa, who was an attractive woman when she came to 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) —she asked: “Should a woman pluck her facial hair for her husband?”

She (may Allah be pleased with her) answered:"Keep disturbances [from you and your husband] away as much as possible."

Allah the Majestic knows best.