Iddah

In Islam, iddah or iddat (Arabic: العدة‎; period of waiting) is the period a woman must observe after the death of her husband or after a divorce, during which she may not marry another man. Its purpose is to ensure that the male parent of any offspring produced after the cessation of a nikah (marriage) would be known. The length of iddah varies according to a number of circumstances.

89788

Husband . Iddah . Divorce

If a girl stays apart at her mother's house for six months after an argument with her husband, should she be in Iddat after those six months if her husband then declares Talaq, or can she consider those months apart as a portion of the Iddat?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 5 years ago

Iddah of Talaq (Waiting period after Talaq) is Must on her no matter how long she is separated from her husband as far as the marriage was consummated. Iddah starts immediately from the time of Talaq and it goes on for three periods of menstruation.

If marriage was never consummated, and Talaq was declared, then there will be no Iddah.

Wassalam.

88623

Sexual . Marriage . Iddah . Divorce . Consummation

If I have not had sexual intercourse with my husband but we have been intimate with each other in other ways, does it make our marriage consummated? And do I need to observe Iddah after divorce?

Intimate acts which do not include sexual intercourse do not mean that the marriage has been consummated. Marriage is consummated when sexual intercourse takes place. If there was no sexual intercourse, there will be no Iddah after divorce. Obviously you will then be entitled of half of the agreed Mahr, while if marriage was consummated, you will be entitled to the full Mahr.

Wassalam.

Sexual . Marriage . Iddah . Divorce . Consummation

If I have not had sexual intercourse with my husband but we have been intimate with each other in other ways, does it make our marriage consummated? And do I need to observe Iddah after divorce?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 5 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

If the marriage has not been consummated, there will be no 'iddah for divorce and the wife will be entitled to half the mahr.

Consummating means sexual intercourse, and so there would be 'iddah if (1) there is intercourse, or (2) the husband's seminal fluid (somehow) entered the wife's vagina.

And Allah knows best.

87778

Wedding . Divorce . Iddah . Marriage . Sexual

I had my Nikah last year following which my husband and I got intimate before the planned wedding reception. Now we are about to get a divorce before that reception. Do I need to observe Iddah and inform the elders about this situation?

Bismihi ta'ala

Because the marriage was consummated, you would need to observe 'iddah of divorce. As for informing elders, that would be at your discretion.

And Allah knows best.

70379

Iddah . Divorce

A woman was divorced Islamically in October and performed temporary marriage after the Iddah ended in January. In February, she found out that her ex-husband had read the divorce incorrectly. What should she do?

Bismihi ta'ala

The first husband must redo the Islamic divorce, making sure all the requirements are met, and it would be best that he authorises a scholar to conduct the divorce on his behalf.

As for the woman, although her temporary marriage was not sinful, it could be that she is not permitted to marry or be with that second man she was with in the temporary marriage. This is something that she must refer to her Marja' taqleed about.

And Allah knows best

67572

Iddah . Divorce . Menstruation (Haidh)

I understand that the Iddah for a divorced woman is 3 menstrual periods or 3 lunar months. If the woman has 2 periods, and then the third does not arrive on time due to stress, is the Iddah then 3 months or does it extend until the 3rd period arrives?

Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb, Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb has a BA in Law from Guilan University, Iran and has also undertaken Hawzah studies in Qom. He used to be a Cultural Affairs director of Ethics Group of Al-Mustafa... Answered 5 years ago

You need to wait till the 3rd starts and as soon as it starts the Iddah period is over.

62053

Iddah . Woman . Marriage . Divorce . Mut'a (Temporary marriage)

How long is the Iddah for a divorced woman if she wanted to enter into a temporary marriage?

The Iddah ( waiting period) for divorced woman is three menstrual periods or three months. If she is pregnant, her Iddah will last till the delivery of the child.

If the woman was divorced before any sexual intercourse took place between her and her husband, then No Iddah on her because marriage was never consummated.

If the woman is old and she has no menstrual period , then there no Iddah of divorce on her.

Wassalam.

60755

Woman . Husband . Divorce . Iddah

A woman is not living with her husband for the last 4 months and had no intimacy of any kind with him. If he then sends her a divorce letter, does she still have to complete her Iddat?

1. Just a letter from the husband or his attorney does not mean real Islamic Talaq unless Talaq has been pronounced properly in front of two pious witnesses along with all other conditions of Talaq ( Husband should not be forced to divorce, wife should not be passing her menstrual period, etc)

2. Iddah of Talaq is obligatory on the wife for three periods of menses or three months after she knows about Talaq, no matter how much time they were separated.

3. If the wife is old enough that she has no menstrual period at all, then she has no Iddah after Talaq.

4. If the marriage was only been recited but never consummated, then no Iddah after Talaq.

Wassalam.

57237

Woman . Iddah

Where should a woman observe her Iddah? Can she observe it in a friend's or relative's home?

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.

54695

Iddah . Pregnancy

What is the rationale of observing the period of Iddah other than the determination of any pregnancy?

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.

54810

Iddah . Divorce . Menopause

I am going through menopause and my husband recently gave me 2 Talaqs. What is the length of my Iddah period?

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.

50433

Iddah . Woman . Menstruation (Haidh)

Why does Iddah cover three menstruation periods when after the first menstruation period it is clear that the woman is not pregnant?

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.