إحداد

إحداد

Ihdad in the lexicon is giving up adornment to show grief; as a term it is a woman's abstention from adornment and similar things for a set period and in set circumstances, and from sleeping away from her own house. ¹ It is obligatory for a widow in the period of waiting after a valid marriage, by agreement, on the saying that a woman who believes in God and the last day may not mourn a dead man for more than three nights, except for a husband, four months and ten days. ¹ The mourning woman avoids what is adornment by law or custom, including scent, kohl and dyed clothes; the report names safflower and saffron dyes, which carry scent. ^{2 3} She may go out for her needs; if she is away from her marital home she must return to it, and travel for pilgrimage or a long journey is treated in detail. ^{4 5 6}