Calculation Of Iddah

The injunction of serving Iddah after the demise of one’s husband has been categorically mentioned in the Quraan Sharif. Allah Ta’ala states:

“Those of you who die, leaving their wives behind, then they (the wives) shall remain by themselves (in Iddah) for four months and ten days (if they are not pregnant).”

(Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 234)

Hence, a woman should observe Iddah for a period of four months and ten days on the demise of her husband. The Iddah will be calculated in the following manner:

If the husband passes away on the first of the lunar month (i.e. the first day of the Islamic month), then her Iddah will be counted as 4 months and 10 days in full, even though some of the Islamic months are 29 days in number and not 30 days. The Iddah will commence from the time of demise, and will terminate at the same time on completion of the Iddah. If his demise was not on the first day of the Islamic month, but he passed away during the course of the Islamic month, then one should count 130 days from the day of demise. In the queried scenario, the husband passed away on 3rd May 2026 which corresponds to 15 Dhul Qa’dah 1447. As such, one will count 130 days from the demise of the Marhoom. Hence, the Iddah will terminate on the 10th of September 2026 at 1pm.

May Allah Ta’ala grant the Marhoom Jannatul Firdous, Aameen!