The Ruling on Delaying the Waiting Period and the Mourning Period Without Any Lawful Excuse

Question :

I am a forty year old married woman with five children. My husbatyd died on the 12th May 1985 C. E.. but I did not observe the waiting period for him due to some work for my husband and my children. But after four months had passed, I observed the waiting period, that is, on the 12th of September 1985 C. E. After I had completed one month, an incident occurred which forced me to go out. So is this month counted as part of the waiting period and is my observation of the waiting period on this date, i.e. four months after the death correct or not, bearing in mind that I go out within the precincts of the house in order to do some work, because I have no one to depend upon regarding the household tasks?

Answer:

What you have done is forbidden, because it. is incumbent upon the woman to begin the waiting period and the mourning period as soon as she becomes aware that her husband has died and it is not permissible for her to delay it, according to the Words of Allah, Most High:
"And those of you who die and leave wives behind them, they (the wives) shall wait (as regards their marriage) for four months and ten days."

Your waiting until four months had passed before commencing your waiting period was a sin and an act of disobedience to Allah, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

You only waited for ten days, you were not in the waiting period beyond that. So you must turn in repentance to Allah, the Almighty, the All-Powerful and perform lots of good deeds, so that haply, Allah may forgive you. And the waiting period observed after its time is not effective.

Source:
Ibn 'Uthaimin
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 6 Pages 101-102