Is it obligatory for a widow to observe her waiting period in the house of her deceased husband?

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It is obligatory for the widow to observe the waiting period in the home where her husband died while she was residing in it. This ruling applies whether the house belonged to the husband, was rented, or was occupied gratuitously (ariyya). This opinion is held by Umar, Uthman, Ibn Umar, Ibn Masud, Umm Salamah, Malik, al-Thawri, al-Awza'i, Abu Hanifa, al-Shafi'i, and Ishaq. It is also the view of scholars in the Hijaz, Sham, Iraq, and Egypt, according to Ibn Abd al-Barr. The evidence is the narration of Fari'ah bint Malik ibn Sinan, sister of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, whom the Prophet, peace be upon him, instructed, saying: "Remain in your house until the term reaches its end." Uthman later confirmed this ruling in the presence of a group of Companions who did not object. If the news of the husband's death reached her outside her dwelling, she must return to her dwelling to observe the waiting period there, based on the Prophet's command to remain in "your house."