Iddah

Scriptural basis The directive within the Quran (Al-Baqarah 2:234-235), regarding the waiting period for a widow, is: Main directives The following is a summary of the main directives (for widows) contained in these verses: • The waiting period (Iddah) of a widow is four months and ten days; • During this period, the woman is not to marry another man; • During this period, a person may declare his intentions of marrying the widow — in a socially acceptable manner — or he may keep such intentions to himself, yet he should not make a secret commitment of marriage with the widow; and • The time and place of the marriage-contract should be finalized and committed to only after the period of four months and ten days has expired. These are the basic Sharia directives regarding the waiting period for a widow. It is also clear from another directive of the Quran that during this waiting period, the woman should not be turned out of her house. ==Iddah for divorced women==

Scriptural basis The directive within the Quran (Al-Baqarah 2:228), regarding the waiting period for a divorcee, is: In surah Al-Ahzab 33:49 it is stated: In the Quran surah At-Talaq Verse 65:4, it is stated: Main directives The following is a summary of the main directives (for divorces) contained in these verses: • The waiting period for a menstruating woman is, three monthly periods • The waiting period for a pre-menstrual girl is, three lunar months • The waiting period of a woman who has no monthly courses is three months • The husband is more entitled to take her back during this period provided that he wants reconciliation. However this is the case only in case of first or second divorce. • If a Muslim man marries a Muslim woman then divorces her before touching her then there is no iddah. Commentaries Imam Suyuti's commentary, Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And as for those of your women who read allā’ī or allā’i in both instances no longer expect to menstruate if you have any doubts about their waiting period their prescribed waiting period shall be three months and also for those who have not yet menstruated because of their young age their period shall also be three months — both cases apply to other than those whose spouses have died; for these latter their period is prescribed in the verse they shall wait by themselves for four months and ten days. Tafsir ibn Kathir, says of this verse, Her Iddah is three months instead of the three monthly cycles for those who menstruate, which is based upon the Ayah in (Surat) Al-Baqarah. (see 2:228) The same for the young, who have not reached the years of menstruation. Their `Iddah is three months like those in menopause. The Tafsir al Jalalyn co-authored by the scholar Imam Suyuti says of this verse,And [as for] those of your women who (read allā’ī or allā’i in both instances) no longer expect to menstruate, if you have any doubts, about their waiting period, their prescribed [waiting] period shall be three months, and [also for] those who have not yet menstruated, because of their young age, their period shall [also] be three months ==Iddah for pregnant women==

Scriptural basis Main directive Divorced women and widows who are pregnant cannot remarry until delivery. Remarriage cannot take place until a period of waiting removes all doubt about any existing pregnancy. ==See also==