1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

25 Questions

Where should a woman observe her Iddah? Can she observe it in a friend's or relative's home?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Iddah has different types:

1.  Iddah after divorce (عدة الطلاق) which is must after a woman is divorced from her husband. It takes three months of less depending on three menstrual periods if she is not pregnant and if she is pregnant, then her Iddah will continue till she delivers her child. Iddah of Talaq must be observed in the matrimonial house. It is not allowed for the husband to drive her away, nor she is allowed to leave matrimonial home.

(O Prophet, when you divorce women, divorce them according to their Iddah, and count the Iddah, and fear Allah your Lord. Do not turn them out of the homes of their homes, not shall they leave) (Sura Al-Talaq, verse 1).

2. Iddah after husband's demise (Iddah Wafat) which is four months and ten days during which she must observe mourning and not take part in any celebration or happy event, nor wear colorful dress.

She can observe this Iddah of Wafat in her home or any other safe place where she observes full Hijab with mourning.

Wassalam.
What is the rationale of observing the period of Iddah other than the determination of any pregnancy?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Iddah is the waiting period which must be observed after termination of marriage whether permanent or temporary , or death of the husband. During Iddah she will not be allowed to even talk about marriage or receive proposals from other men.

Iddah is two types:

1. Iddah of Talaq or after termination of temporary marriage provides confirmation that the woman does not have in her body from her husband, not only pregnancy but any remaining from sexual intercourse. This Iddah is three menstrual periods after Talaq, and two periods after temporary marriage. If the wife is pregnant, her Iddah will continue till the end of the pregnancy. There is no Iddah if the marriage was never consummated ( No sexual intercourse at all) or if the wife is old enough that she has no menses.

2. Iddah of Wafat, which is obligatory after death of the husband in any type of marriage and it goes on till four months and ten day after wife is informed about her husband’s death. If the death news reached the wife late, her Iddah time starts from that time not from the real date of death. Iddah of Wafat shows the respect which every wife should show to her husband, that respect which makes her more respected in the society. In some ignorant societies, they look to the woman who lost her husband as vulnerably low standard person. Allah ( SWT) wants her to be always respected 

Wassalam.
I am going through menopause and my husband recently gave me 2 Talaqs. What is the length of my Iddah period?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi
There is no two valid Talaq together. Valid Talaq with all its conditions including declaring it in front of two Aadil ( Pious) witnesses, counts just one Talaq. There is no second Talaq immediately after it. Second Talaq can only be declared if the marriage is reinstated again, then all conditions of Talaq were accomplished. .
Iddah period after valid Talaq is three menstrual periods, and if the woman has no regular period, then it is three months.
Wassalam.
Why does Iddah cover three menstruation periods when after the first menstruation period it is clear that the woman is not pregnant?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'ala

The observation of the 'iddah period is not only to ascertain pregnancy, or not, but rather for many issues, and most importantly it is a divine ruling placed by Almighty Allah. 

As long as the marriage has been consummated, even though ejaculation did not occur, when the husband divorces his wife, she will still need to observe 'iddah. 

There must be a "cooling off" period for the purpose of emotional detachment, recovering from previous relationship, transitioning back to another life, society realising their marital status, and more reasons that would support the importance of 'iddah for divorce, or 'iddah for passing away of husband.

And Allah knows best.