“Certain conditions of Iddat are not obligatory,” Hina Bayat responds to criticism over not completing Iddat period

Amidst criticism surrounding her decision to resume work shortly after her husband's death, and without completing the Iddat period, legendary actor Hina Khawaja Bayat clarified that "people often misinterpret Islam and hastily issue fatwas."

The ‘Churails’ actor emphasised that despite her personal grief, she felt obligated to continue working, recognising that her absence would have caused significant loss for others.

In January 2023, Hina Khawaja Bayat's husband, Roger Dawood Bayat, succumbed to cancer after a prolonged battle with the illness.

Addressing the online criticism she faced for airing a drama soon after her husband's passing, the ‘Aunn Zara’ actor said that she received unwarranted backlash.

The seasoned actor shared her experience of facing criticism on social media, “where people questioned why she didn't complete the Iddat, questioned the sincerity of my love for husband, and made remarks that these women love to appear in front of the camera with only makeup on.”

Hina Khawaja Bayat clarified in a recent podcast that “certain conditions of Iddat are not obligatory to follow, especially when a woman is responsible for running her own household without external support.”

She highlighted examples from religion, such as “during the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), women participated in burying their husbands during times of war.”

Responding to the criticism, she questioned the misconception that a woman cannot go to the cemetery, emphasising that, “of course, she can, but not necessarily to cry loudly and cause a disturbance.”

Addressing the issue of not completing Iddat, Hina asserted, “Whether sitting at home and wasting time, causing loss to others, would be acceptable to Allah." 

She explained her decision by pointing out that “when my husband passed away, one of my projects was scheduled to be aired on TV. If I had refrained from work during that time, it would have affected many people."

Hina argued that people often rush to criticise others without considering their circumstances, often neglecting the sensitivity of personal situations that may not be shared publicly.