Short answer
Normally no. A widow keeps her iddah in the home she lived in when her husband died. She may move only in real need: if she is unsafe there, is evicted, cannot afford the rent, or the house is not fit to live in. Then she moves to the nearest suitable place, which can be her parents' home.
Spending the iddah in the marital home is wajib. Moving is permitted for necessity, such as fear for her life or property, collapse of the house, eviction, inability to pay rent, or her share of the house being too small when the heirs will not let her stay. She then moves to the nearest suitable place and completes the iddah there.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
In many families, the widow's parents want to take her home straight after the funeral, to look after her. It comes from love, but the sunnah is that she stays where she was living. When Furay'ah's husband was killed, she asked the Prophet ﷺ if she could go back to her family, because he had not left her a house of his own. He first said yes, then called her back and told her: "Stay in your house until the term is complete." The four schools agree on this rule.
When moving is allowed:
- She fears for her safety or her property, for example living alone in an unsafe area with real danger.
- The landlord ends the tenancy, or she cannot afford the rent.
- The house belongs to the estate and the other heirs will not let her stay, and her own share is too small to live in.
- The in-laws she lived with harm her or make life unbearable.
- The house is damaged and unsafe.
Loneliness or the family's wish to have her near is not, on its own, a reason. Instead, her mother, sisters or a mahram can come and stay with her in the marital home.
If she was away when he died, for example visiting her parents or abroad, she should return to the marital home to complete the iddah if she can do so safely.
If she moves for one of these reasons, she keeps the rest of the iddah in the new home, with the same rules. If she moved without need, she should go back and repent; see breaking the iddah. Situations vary a lot, so ask a mufti about yours, and see what a widow can do during iddah.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah At-Talaaq 65:1
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ ۖ لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِنۢ بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَٰحِشَةٍۢ مُّبَيِّنَةٍۢ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ لَا تَدْرِى لَعَلَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًۭا ﴿١﴾
O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period and keep count of the waiting period, and fear Allah, your Lord. Do not turn them out of their [husbands'] houses, nor should they [themselves] leave [during that period] unless they are committing a clear immorality. And those are the limits [set by] Allah. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah has certainly wronged himself. You know not; perhaps Allah will bring about after that a [different] matter.
Staying in the home during iddah is part of Allah's limits.
Sunan Abi Dawud 2300
Graded sahih... امكثي في بيتك حتى يبلغ الكتاب أجله ...
"Stay in your house until the prescribed term is complete."
The widow keeps her iddah in her own home.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Talaq, Bab al-'Iddah, section on where the iddah is kept. The widow stays in the marital home and leaves only for necessity.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Talaq, Bab al-'Iddah. The excuses that allow moving, such as fear, eviction and rent.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.