There are some provisions in Quran regarding the woman whose husband is dead. It is claimed that there is a contradiction about the related verses. While one of these verses mention a period of one year, the other mentions a period of four months and ten days. Even if the difference in periods is tried to be shown as a contradiction, it is seen that there is no any contradiction when the subjects mentioned in the verses are reviewed. The reason the periods are different, is because different periods about different situations are mentioned for widows. The verses about this subject are as follows:
Those men who die and leave wives behind, should give their wills regarding looking after their wives for a period of one year without them getting out of their houses. If they get out, you will not be responsible of them. Allah is strong, Wise. (2 Bakara Surah – 240)

The wives left behind by those men who died, wait for four months and ten days. You are nor responsible of them after they complete this period. Allah knows what you do. (2 Bakara Surah – 234)
The subject mentioned in the 240^th verse of Bakara Surah mentions that the widows have the right to stay in the houses of their dead husbands for one year. The house of the dead husband may be inherited by different people. In this case the woman has the right to stay in this house for one year. Besides she has to be looked after. In the 234^th verse of Bakara Surah it is mentioned that those women whose husbands die have to wait for a period for four months and ten days without getting married. So two different situations are mentioned in two different verses regarding the wives. It is obvious that there is no any contradiction in the verses when reviewed carefully.