marriage.

Dear Islamic brothers! From this verse and its tafsir, it is clear that the Ꜥidda of a non-pregnant widow is four months and ten days. Yet, here again we see the Prophetic authority.

After her first husband, JaꜤfar al-Ṭayyār رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was martyred, Lady Asmāʾ bt. ꜤUmays رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا  was instructed by the Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ to mourn for only three days, instead of performing Ꜥidda for the usual four months and ten days.

She narrates, “When my first husband was martyred, the Prophet    صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  told me: تَسَلَّبِیْ ثَلٰـثًا ثُمَّ اِصْنَعِیْ مَا شِئْتِ  - ‘Stay away from adornment for three days, then do whatever you wish.’”^[1]

Imam Aḥmad Raza Khan رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ   explains that here, the Prophet  صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  exercised his choice, granting her exemption from the general rule that a widow must undertake a waiting period for four months and ten days.^[2]

The Prophet’s صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  authority regarding sacrificial animals

Barāʾˈ b. ꜤĀzib رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that Abū Burdah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ  had performed his animal sacrifice (qurbani) before Eid salah. The Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ ordained that he should offer another sacrifice, as the first one was not valid.

Abū Burdah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ  replied: “O Messenger of Allah! I only have a six-month-old goat now, which is better than a one-year-old goat.” The Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  replied: اِجْعَلْهَا مَكَانَهَا،وَلَنْ تَجْزِيَ عَنْ اَحَدٍ بَعْدَكَ   - “Offer it in its place, but know that after you, this will never suffice for anybody else.”^[3]