She went out for Hajj and her husband died; does she have to go back to observe ‘iddah?
Question

                What is the ruling on a woman who went for Hajj, and whilst she was there her husband died? What is her situation according to sharee‘ah? Should she carry on with Hajj, then observe her ‘iddah after she comes back from there, or does she have to go back home immediately? Please reply, quoting hadeeth as evidence.
Praise be to Allah.
      If a woman's husband dies whilst she is on Hajj, one of two 
      scenarios must apply: 

    1.

    The news of her husband’s death reached her before she left 
    her home for Hajj, in which case it is not permissible for her to go out for 
    Hajj. 

    Ibn Qudaamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If she still 
    has to do the obligatory Hajj, and her husband dies, she has to observe 
    ‘iddah in her house, even if she misses Hajj, because otherwise she will 
    miss her ‘iddah when it is obligatory for her, whereas Hajj may be done in 
    some other year. End quote from al-Mughni, 8/135. 

    Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) 
    was asked about a woman who had resolved, along with her husband, to do 
    Hajj, then her husband died in Sha‘baan; is it permissible for her to do 
    Hajj? 

    He replied: She should not travel for Hajj during the ‘iddah 
    following her husband's death, according to the view of the four imams. End 
    quote. Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 34/29. 

    For more information please see the answer to question no.
    45519. 

    2.

    The second scenario is if the news of her husband's death 
    reaches her after she has set out for Hajj. In this case it depends on her 
    circumstances. If she is close, meaning that she has not travelled the 
    distance after which prayers may be shortened, then she should go back and 
    observe ‘iddah in her husband's house. If she has passed the distance after 
    which prayers may be shortened, then she should continue her journey and she 
    does not have to go back. 

    Ibn Qudaamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said in 
    al-Mughni (8/134-135): If she sets out, and her husband dies on the 
    road, then she should go back if she is still close (to home), because she 
    still comes under the rulings of one who is not travelling. But if she has 
    gone far in her journey, Maalik says that she should go back so long as she 
    has not entered ihram, but the correct view is that one who has gone far 
    away should not return. 

    The view that it is obligatory to go back if she is still 
    close is the report narrated from Sa‘eed ibn al-Musayyab who said: Some 
    husbands died when their wives were doing Hajj or ‘Umrah, and ‘Umar sent 
    them back from Dhu’l-Hulayfah, so that they could observe ‘iddah in their 
    houses. If it is possible for the woman to observe ‘iddah in her house 
    before she has gone far, then she must do so, such as if she has not yet 
    left the built-up area [of her city]. However, the one who has travelled far 
    is not obliged to come back, because it will cause her difficulty and will 
    require her to travel, so it is similar to the case of one who has reached 
    her destination. 

    When the one who has travelled far comes back, if she still 
    has anything left of her ‘iddah, she must observe it in her husband's house, 
    and there is no difference of opinion concerning that as far as we know, 
    because it is possible for her to observe ‘iddah there, so she has to do it 
    as if she had not travelled and left it. End quote. 

    Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was 
    asked: If a woman goes out for Hajj, and after she reaches Jeddah she hears 
    that her husband has died, should she complete Hajj or should she observe ‘iddah? 

    He replied: She should complete Hajj, because if she goes 
    back, her return will involve travelling, but if she stays she will still be 
    travelling, so she should complete Hajj, especially if it is obligatory for 
    her, then she should go back. Even if it is a naafil Hajj, she should 
    complete it. End quote from Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 21/58. 

    To sum up: 

    If a woman has gone for Hajj then she hears that her husband 
    has died whilst she is on Hajj, she is not obliged to go back home, because 
    that will involve difficulty, but when she goes back after Hajj, if there is 
    anything left of her ‘iddah, she should complete it in her husband’s house. 

    And Allah knows best.