What is the required Iddah period for a female slave whose husband dies?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Waiting Periods ('Iddah)
Primary text
The general scholarly consensus, including the views of Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib, 'Ata', Sulayman ibn Yasar, al-Zuhri, Qatadah, Malik, al-Thawri, al-Shafi'i, Ishaq, Abu Thawr, and the Ahl al-Ra'y, dictates that the Iddah for a female slave whose husband dies is two months and five days.
Supporting text
Ibn Sirin held the view that the Iddah for a female slave should be the same as that for a free woman, unless a full year has passed, in which case the year takes precedence, arguing he followed the apparent and general meaning of the text. The primary evidence for the ruling is the consensus of the Companions (Sahaba) that the Iddah for a divorced female slave is half that of a free woman; therefore, the Iddah for widowhood should follow the same principle.