How long is the iddah of a widow and of a divorced woman?
The question as asked, details removedWhat is the length of the iddah after the death of a husband, and after a divorce?More
This is a sample answer written to show how the site works. It follows the standard Hanafi books, but no mufti has reviewed or signed it yet, so it is not a fatwa. For a real answer, ask a question. Ask a mufti
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِكِ الْوَهَّابِ اَللّٰهُمَّ هِدَايَةَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
1Short answer
A widow's iddah is 4 months and 10 days. A divorced woman who menstruates waits three complete menstrual cycles; one who does not menstruate waits three months. A pregnant woman's iddah, in either case, ends when she gives birth.
2Detailed answer
The iddah depends on the situation:
- Widow, not pregnant: 4 months and 10 days from the husband's death, whether or not the marriage was consummated.
- Divorced woman who menstruates: three complete menstrual cycles after the divorce.
- Divorced woman who does not menstruate, because of old age or being too young: three months.
- Pregnant woman, widowed or divorced: until she gives birth, whether that is sooner or later.
- Divorced before the marriage was consummated and before any valid seclusion: no iddah.
During the iddah she may not marry or get engaged. She stays in the home she lived in as a wife, and goes out only for genuine need; a widow may go out by day for her livelihood if she has to. A widow avoids adornment, perfume and jewellery for the whole iddah.
3Evidence and sources
- Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:228, 2:234
- Qur'an, At-Talaq 65:4
- Qur'an, Al-Ahzab 33:49
- Bahar-e-Shariat, chapter on iddah
Arabic texts, translations and how the ruling was derived
والذين يتوفون منكم ويذرون أزواجا يتربصن بأنفسهن أربعة أشهر وعشرا
Meaning: Those of you who die and leave wives behind, they shall wait by themselves four months and ten days.
والمطلقات يتربصن بأنفسهن ثلاثة قروء
Meaning: Divorced women shall wait by themselves for three periods.
وأولات الأحمال أجلهن أن يضعن حملهن
Meaning: And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they deliver.
Surah at-Talaq also gives three months for those who do not menstruate, and Surah al-Ahzab removes the iddah for a woman divorced before consummation. The Hanafi school understands the three periods as three menstrual cycles.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُهُ أَعْلَمُ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ