What is 'Iddah?

Terms and word definitions as they relate to Islam.
[initially the terms are being brought over from our old board
"http://bbs.troach.net/viewforum(8).htm"
as there is a lot of good and important information found there.]
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transferedposts
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What is 'Iddah?

Post by transferedposts » Thu Mar 26, 2015 10:02 am

What is 'Iddah?

'Iddah is the amount of time the woman must wait before taking a new husband or partner after a marriage is terminated. Varies between 1 to 3 menstrual cycles depending on the reason for the end of the marriage.
It is obligatory upon every woman who leaves her husband, or whose husband leaves her, whether the cause is talaaq (divorce), annulment of the marriage or the death of the husband, except when the divorce occurs before the marriage has been consummated, in which case the woman does not have to observe 'iddah.

It seems that this rule was mostly put in place for 2 reasons:

To make sure the female is not pregnant and to give the male time to reconsider the divorce and take the female back.

MyleneFal
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Re: What is 'Iddah?

Post by MyleneFal » Mon Oct 23, 2017 7:47 am

Your information is mostly correct but the waiting time is incorrect.


There are three different conditions that set the waiting period or iddah.

1. separated/divorced before the couple had intercourse. No waiting period.

O you who believe: When you marry believing women and then divorce them before you have touched them, no period of idda (waiting) have you to count in respect of them: so give them a present and set them free in a graceful manner. S. 33:49

In other words, if the marriage was not yet consummated, i.e. there was no sexual intercourse, there cannot be an unborn child. In this case, the woman does not have to observe the 'iddah period; and the husband who does not like to keep her (for whatever reason), does not have to pay her expenses for another three months, which would otherwise be his obligation (cf. S. 65:6-7).


2. divorced after intercourse. 3 monthly cycles. (unless pregnant)

Divorced women shall wait concerning themselves for three monthly periods. Nor is it lawful for them to hide what God Hath created in their wombs, if they have faith in God and the Last Day. ... 2:228 Yusuf Ali

O Prophet ! when you divorce women, divorce them for the prescribed period, and thereafter reckon the period; and fear ALLAH, your Lord. ... And if you are in doubt as to the prescribed period for such of your women as have despaired of monthly courses, then know that the prescribed period for them is three months, and also for such as do not have their monthly courses yet. And as for those who are with child, their period shall be until they are delivered of their burden. And whoso fears ALLAH, HE will provide facilities for him in his affair. S. 65:1,4 Sher Ali

3. The husband dies. (4 months 10 days

If any of you die and leave widows behind, they shall wait concerning themselves four months and ten days: when they have fulfilled their term, there is no blame on you if they dispose of themselves in a just and reasonable manner. And Allah is well acquainted with what ye do. S. 2:234


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admin
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Re: What is 'Iddah?

Post by admin » Mon Oct 23, 2017 9:53 am

MyleneFal,

Thanks for the correction and update.

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