"I heard my mother, Um Salama saying that a woman came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! The husband of my daughter has died and she is suffering from an eye disease, can she apply kohl to her eye?" Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, "No," twice or thrice. (Every time she repeated her question) he said, "No." Then Messenger of Allah ﷺ added, "It is just a matter of four months and ten days. In the Pre-Islamic Period of ignorance a widow among you should throw a globe of dung when one year has elapsed."

وَسَمِعْتُ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ تَقُولُ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ ابْنَتِي تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا وَقَدِ اشْتَكَتْ عَيْنَهَا أَفَتَكْحُلُهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا كُلَّ ذَلِكَ يَقُولُ لاَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرٌ وَقَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ تَرْمِي بِالْبَعَرَةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ

A woman was bereaved of her husband and her relatives worried about her eyes (which were diseased). They came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and asked him to allow them to treat her eyes with kohl, but he said, "She should not apply kohl to her eyes. (In the Pre-Islamic period of Ignorance) a widowed woman among you would stay in the worst of her clothes (or the worst part of her house) and when a year had elapsed, if a dog passed by her, she would throw a globe of dung, Nay, (she cannot use kohl) till four months and ten days have elapsed."

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً تُوُفِّيَ زَوْجُهَا فَخَشُوا عَلَى عَيْنَيْهَا فَأَتَوْا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَاسْتَأْذَنُوهُ فِي الْكُحْلِ فَقَالَ لاَ تَكَحَّلْ قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي شَرِّ أَحْلاَسِهَا أَوْ شَرِّ بَيْتِهَا فَإِذَا كَانَ حَوْلٌ فَمَرَّ كَلْبٌ رَمَتْ بِبَعَرَةٍ فَلاَ حَتَّى تَمْضِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرٌ

The husband of a lady died and her eyes became sore and the people mentioned her story to the Prophet They asked him whether it was permissible for her to use kohl as her eyes were exposed to danger. He said, "Previously, when one of you was bereaved by a husband she would stay in her dirty clothes in a bad unhealthy house (for one year), and when a dog passed by, she would throw a globe of dung. No, (she should observe the prescribed period Idda) for four months and ten days.'

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً تُوُفِّيَ زَوْجُهَا فَاشْتَكَتْ عَيْنَهَا فَذَكَرُوهَا لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَذَكَرُوا لَهُ الْكُحْلَ وَأَنَّهُ يُخَافُ عَلَى عَيْنِهَا فَقَالَ لَقَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي بَيْتِهَا فِي شَرِّ أَحْلاَسِهَا أَوْ فِي أَحْلاَسِهَا فِي شَرِّ بَيْتِهَا فَإِذَا مَرَّ كَلْبٌ رَمَتْ بَعْرَةً فَلاَ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا

One among you used to spend one year in a dungeon dressed in worst clothes. (And at the end of this period) she threw dung at the dog which happened to pass that way and then she came out (of her 'Idda). Can't she (wait) even for four months and ten days?

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً تُوُفِّيَ زَوْجُهَا فَخَافُوا عَلَى عَيْنِهَا فَأَتَوُا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَاسْتَأْذَنُوهُ فِي الْكُحْلِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَكُونُ فِي شَرِّ بَيْتِهَا فِي أَحْلاَسِهَا أَوْ فِي شَرِّ أَحْلاَسِهَا فِي بَيْتِهَا حَوْلاً فَإِذَا مَرَّ كَلْبٌ رَمَتْ بِبَعَرَةٍ فَخَرَجَتْ أَفَلاَ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا

Zainab said: "And I heard my mother, Umm Salamah said: 'A woman came to the Messenger of Allah and she said: "O Messenger of Allah! My daughter's husband died, and she is suffering from an eye ailment, so can she use Kohl?" the Messenger of Allah said: "No" two or three time. Each time (she asked) he said "no." Then he said: "It is just a mater of four months and ten (days). During Jahliyyah one of you would throw a clump of camel dung when one year passed."

وَسَمِعْتُ أُمِّي أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ تَقُولُ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ ابْنَتِي تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا وَقَدِ اشْتَكَتْ عَيْنَيْهَا أَفَنَكْحَلُهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ يَقُولُ لاَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا وَقَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ تَرْمِي بِالْبَعْرَةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ فُرَيْعَةَ بِنْتِ مَالِكٍ أُخْتِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ وَحَفْصَةَ بِنْتِ عُمَرَ

"From her mother?" He said: "Yes" - "that the Prophet was asked about a woman whose husband had died but they were worried about her eyes - could she use kohl?" He said: "One of you used to stay in her house wearing her shabbiest clothes for a year, then she would come out. No, (the mourning period is) four months and ten (days)."

نَعَمْ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ سُئِلَ عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا فَخَافُوا عَلَى عَيْنِهَا أَتَكْتَحِلُ فَقَالَ قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي بَيْتِهَا فِي شَرِّ أَحْلاَسِهَا حَوْلاً ثُمَّ خَرَجَتْ فَلاَ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا

"A woman from the Quraish came and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, my daughter's eyes are inflamed; shall I apply kohl to her?' (The daughter's) husband had died so (the Prophet) said: 'Not until four months and ten days (have passed).' Then she said: 'I fear for her sight.' He said: 'No, not until four months and ten days (have passed). During the Jahiliyyah one of you would mourn for her husband for a year, then when one year had passed she would throw a piece of dung.'"

حُمَيْدٌ وَحَدَّثَتْنِي زَيْنَبُ بِنْتُ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أُمِّهَا أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ ابْنَتِي رَمِدَتْ أَفَأَكْحُلُهَا وَكَانَتْ مُتَوَفًّى عَنْهَا فَقَالَ أَلاَ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ثُمَّ قَالَتْ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَى بَصَرِهَا فَقَالَ لاَ إِلاَّ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ تَحِدُّ عَلَى زَوْجِهَا سَنَةً ثُمَّ تَرْمِي عَلَى رَأْسِ السَّنَةِ بِالْبَعْرَةِ

"One of you used to mourn for a year, then throw a piece of dung when a year had passed. Rather it (the mourning period) is four months and ten days."

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَسَأَلَتْهُ عَنِ ابْنَتِهَا مَاتَ زَوْجُهَا وَهِيَ تَشْتَكِي قَالَ قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَحِدُّ السَّنَةَ ثُمَّ تَرْمِي الْبَعْرَةَ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ وَإِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا

he heard Zainab the daughter of Umm Salamah narrating that she heard Umm Salamah and Umm Habibah mention that a woman came to the Prophet ﷺ and said that her daughter's husband had died, and she was suffering from an eye disease, and she wanted to apply kohl to her eyes (as a remedy). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "One of you would throw a she-camel's dropping when a year had passed (since the death of her husband. Rather it is four months and ten (days)."

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ إِنَّ ابْنَةً لَهَا تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا فَاشْتَكَتْ عَيْنُهَا فَهِيَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَكْحَلَهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَرْمِي بِالْبَعْرَةِ عِنْدَ رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ وَإِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا

[AI] A woman's husband passed away, and her eye became infected. They mentioned her to the Prophet ﷺ and they mentioned kohl (eyeliner) to him, saying, "Should we be concerned about her eye?" He said, "She used to stay in her house during her menstrual period, or during her husband's menstrual period, (i.e., she observed 'Iddah, the period of waiting after a husband's death or divorce) and when a dog passed by her, she would throw something at it. Should it not be four months and ten [days]?"

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً تُوُفِّيَ زَوْجُهَا فَاشْتَكَتْ عَيْنَهَا فَذَكَرُوهَا لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَذَكَرُوا الْكُحْلَ قَالُوا نَخَافُ عَلَى عَيْنِهَا؟ قَالَ قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي بَيْتِهَا فِي شَرِّ أَحْلَاسِهَا أَوْ فِي أَحْلَاسِهَا فِي شَرِّ بَيْتِهَا حَوْلًا فَإِذَا مَرَّ بِهَا كَلْبٌ رَمَتْ بِبَعْرَةٍأَفَلَا أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا؟

One among you used to spend one year in a dungeon dressed in worst clothes. (And at the end of this period) she threw dung at the dog which happened to pass that way and then she came out (of her 'Idda). Can't she (wait) even for four months and ten days? (Using translation from Muslim 1488c)

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً تُوُفِّيَ زَوْجُهَا فَخَافُوا عَلَى عَيْنِهَا فَأَتَوْا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَاسْتَأْذَنُوهُ فِي الْكُحْلِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَكُونُ فِي بَيْتِهَا فِي أَحْلَاسِهَا أَوْ فِي شَرِّ أَحْلَاسِهَا فِي بَيْتِهَا حَوْلًا فَإِذَا مَرَّ كَلْبٌ رَمَتْ بِبَعْرَةٍ فَخَرَجَتْ فَلَا أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا

Zaynab said, "I heard my mother, Umm Salama, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ say that a woman came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, 'Messenger of Allah! My daughter's husband died, and her eyes are troubling her, can she put kohl on them?' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'No' two or three times. Then he said, 'It is only four months and ten days. In the Jahiliyya, none of you threw away the piece of dung until a year had passed.' " Humayd ibn Nafi said, "I asked Zaynab to explain what 'throwing away the piece of dung at the end of a year' meant. Zaynab said, 'In the Jahiliyya when a woman's husband died, she went into a small tent and dressed in the worst of clothes. She did not touch perfume or anything until a year had passed. Then she was brought an animal - a donkey, a sheep, or a bird, and she would break her idda with it, by rubbing her body against it (taftaddu). Rarely did she break her idda with anything (by rubbing herself against it) but that it died. Then she would come out and would be given a piece of dung. She would throw it away and then return to whatever she wished of perfumes or whatever.' " Malik explained, 'Taftaddu' means to wipe her skin with it in the same way as with a healing charm."

وَسَمِعْتُ أُمِّي أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ تَقُولُ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ ابْنَتِي تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا وَقَدِ اشْتَكَتْ عَيْنَيْهَا أَفَتَكْحُلُهُمَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا كُلُّ ذَلِكَ يَقُولُ لاَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا وَقَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ تَرْمِي بِالْبَعْرَةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ قَالَ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ فَقُلْتُ لِزَيْنَبَ وَمَا تَرْمِي بِالْبَعْرَةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ فَقَالَتْ زَيْنَبُ كَانَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ إِذَا تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا دَخَلَتْ حِفْشًا وَلَبِسَتْ شَرَّ ثِيَابِهَا وَلَمْ تَمَسَّ طِيبًا وَلاَ شَيْئًا حَتَّى تَمُرَّ بِهَا سَنَةٌ ثُمَّ تُؤْتَى بِدَابَّةٍ حِمَارٍ أَوْ شَاةٍ أَوْ طَيْرٍ فَتَفْتَضُّ بِهِ فَقَلَّمَا تَفْتَضُّ بِشَىْءٍ إِلاَّ مَاتَ ثُمَّ تَخْرُجُ فَتُعْطَى بَعْرَةً فَتَرْمِي بِهَا ثُمَّ تُرَاجِعُ بَعْدُ مَا شَاءَتْ مِنْ طِيبٍ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ

"I heard my mother, Um Salama saying that a woman came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! The husband of my daughter has died and she is suffering from an eye disease, can she apply kohl to her eye?" Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, "No," twice or thrice. (Every time she repeated her question) he said, "No." Then Messenger of Allah ﷺ added, "It is just a matter of four months and ten days. In the Pre-Islamic Period of ignorance a widow among you should throw a globe of dung when one year has elapsed." (Using translation from Bukhārī 5336)

وَسَمِعْتُ أُمِّي أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ تَقُولُ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ ابْنَتِي تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا وَقَدِ اشْتَكَتْ عَيْنَاهَا فَنُكَحِّلُهَا؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «لَا» مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثًا كُلُّ ذَلِكَ يَقُولُ «لَا إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرٌ وَقَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ تَرْمِي بِالْبَعْرَةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ

[AI] "O Messenger of Allah, my daughter's husband has passed away and I fear for her eyesight. Should I apply kohl to her eyes?" He (the Prophet) said, "One of you used to apply kohl to her eyes upon the completion of four months and ten days."

يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ ابْنَتِي تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا وَقَدْ خَشِيتُ عَلَى بَصَرِهَا أَفَأَكْحُلُهَا؟ قَالَ «كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَرْمِي بِالْبَعْرَةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ وَإِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا»

[AI] Al-Qa'nabi narrated and Bakr bin Sahl narrated from Abdullah bin Yusuf who said Malik bin Anas narrated from Abdullah bin Abu Bakr from Humaid bin Nafi that Zainab bint Abu Salama informed him. She said, "I heard Umm Salama saying, 'A woman came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, my daughter's husband has passed away and her eyes have been afflicted. Should I apply kohl to them?' He said, 'No,' two or three times, each time saying 'No.' Then he said, 'Only four months and ten days have passed, and one of you used to throw Khadir (a type of plant) on the head of the newborn.'"

ثنا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا بَكْرُ بْنُ سَهْلٍ ثنا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ قَالُوا ثنا مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ نَافِعٍ أَنَّ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ فَقَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ تَقُولُ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ ابْنَتِي تُوُفِّيَ زَوْجُهَا وَقَدِ اشْتَكَتْ عَيْنَيْهَا أَفَأَكْحُلُهَا؟ قَالَ «لَا» مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثًا كُلُّ ذَلِكَ يَقُولُ «لَا» ثُمَّ قَالَ «إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا وَقَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَرْمِي بِالْبَعْرَةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ»

[AI] A woman's husband died and she complained about her eye. So they went to the Prophet ﷺ and asked for permission to use kohl, mentioning that they were concerned about her eye. The Prophet ﷺ said, "One of you stayed in her house for a period of time, during which she threw away a speck of dust. Shouldn't she observe a period of four months and ten [days]?"

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا فَاشْتَكَتْ عَيْنَهَا فَأَتَوُا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَاسْتَأْذَنُوهُ فِي الْكُحْلِ وَذَكَرُوا أَنَّهُمْ يَخْشَوْنَ عَلَى عَيْنِهَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي بَيْتِهَا حَوْلًا فَإِذَا كَانَ حَوْلًا رَمَتْ بِبَعْرَةٍ أَفَلَا أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا؟»

he heard Zainab the daughter of Umm Salamah narrating that she heard Umm Salamah and Umm Habibah mention that a woman came to the Prophet ﷺ and said that her daughter's husband had died, and she was suffering from an eye disease, and she wanted to apply kohl to her eyes (as a remedy). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "One of you would throw a she-camel's dropping when a year had passed (since the death of her husband. Rather it is four months and ten (days)." (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 2084)

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَذَكَرَتْ أَنَّ ابْنَةً لَهَا تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا فَاشْتَكَتْ عَيْنَيْهَا وَهِيَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَكْحُلَهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَرْمِي بِالْبَعْرَةِ عِنْدَ رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ وَإِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا»

"From her mother?" He said: "Yes" - "that the Prophet was asked about a woman whose husband had died but they were worried about her eyes - could she use kohl?" He said: "One of you used to stay in her house wearing her shabbiest clothes for a year, then she would come out. No, (the mourning period is) four months and ten (days)." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3501)

نَعَمْ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ سُئِلَ عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا فَخَافُوا عَلَى عَيْنِهَا أَتَكْتَحِلُ؟ فَقَالَ «قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي بَيْتِهَا فِي شَرِّ أَحْلَاسِهَا حَوْلًا فَإِذَا مَرَّ رَمَتْ بِبَعَرَةٍ ثُمَّ خَرَجَتْ فَلَا أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا»

"One of you used to mourn for a year, then throw a piece of dung when a year had passed. Rather it (the mourning period) is four months and ten days." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3539)

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَسَأَلَتْهُ عَنِ ابْنَتِهَا مَاتَ زَوْجُهَا وَهِيَ تَشْتَكِي عَيْنَهَا قَالَ «قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تُحِدُّ السَّنَةَ ثُمَّ تَرْمِي بِالْبَعْرَةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ وَإِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرٌ»

"My daughter's husband has died, and I am worried about her eyes; she needs kohl." He said: "One of you used to throw a piece of dung after a year had passed. Rather it (the mourning period) is four months and ten days." I (the narrator) said to Zainab: "What does 'after a year had passed' mean?" She said: "During the Jahiliyyah, if a woman's husband died she would go to the worst room she had and stay there, then, when a year had passed, she would come out and throw a piece of dung behind her." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3540)

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ جَاءَتْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ إِنَّ ابْنَتِي تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا وَقَدْ خِفْتُ عَلَى عَيْنِهَا وَهِيَ تُرِيدُ الْكُحْلَ قَالَ «قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَرْمِي بِالْبَعْرَةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ وَإِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرٌ» فَقُلْتُ لِزَيْنَبَ مَا رَأْسُ الْحَوْلِ؟ قَالَتْ كَانَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ إِذَا هَلَكَ زَوْجُهَا عَمِدَتْ إِلَى شَرِّ بَيْتٍ لَهَا فَجَلَسَتْ فِيهِ حَتَّى إِذَا مَرَّتْ بِهَا سَنَةٌ خَرَجَتْ وَرَمَتْ وَرَاءَهَا بِبَعَرَةٍ

A woman was bereaved of her husband and her relatives worried about her eyes (which were diseased). They came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and asked him to allow them to treat her eyes with kohl, but he said, "She should not apply kohl to her eyes. (In the Pre-Islamic period of Ignorance) a widowed woman among you would stay in the worst of her clothes (or the worst part of her house) and when a year had elapsed, if a dog passed by her, she would throw a globe of dung, Nay, (she cannot use kohl) till four months and ten days have elapsed." (Using translation from Bukhārī 5338)

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا فَرَمَدَتْ فَخَشَوْا عَلَى عَيْنِهَا فَأَتَوَا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَاسْتَأْذَنُوهُ فِي الْكُحْلِ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَا تَكْتَحِلْ قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي شَرِّ أَحْلَاسِهَا أَوْ فِي شَرِّ أَبْنِيَتِهَا فَإِذَا كَانَ حَوْلٌ فَمَرَّ كَلْبٌ رَمَتْ بِبَعْرَةٍ فَلَا حَتَّى تَمْضِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرٌ

"إِنَّمَا هى أَربعةُ أشْهر وعَشْرٌ، وقد كانت إِحداكن في الجاهليَّةِ تَرْمى بالبعرةِ على رأسِ الحولِ ".

"عن أم سلمة قالت: جاءت امرأة إلى رسول الله ﷺ فقالت: يا رسول الله ﷺ إن ابنتي توفي زوجها وقد اشتكت عينها أفأكحلها؟ قال: لا مرتين أو ثلاثًا كل ذلك يقول: لا، ثم قال: إنما هي أربعة أشهر وعشر، وقد كانت إحداكن ترى بالبعرة على رأس الحول".