What does the iddah of a divorcee entail?
What does the iddah of a divorced woman entail?
When a marriage ends, Islam prescribes a waiting period known as the iddah (عدة) before a woman can marry again. The length and rules of the iddah depend on whether the marriage ended through divorce or the death of the husband, and whether the woman is pregnant or menstruates.
How long is the iddah after divorce?
For a divorced woman who menstruates, Allah Almighty says:
وَٱلْمُطَلَّقَـٰتُ يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ ثَلَـٰثَةَ قُرُوٓءٍ
“Divorced women shall wait by themselves for three periods.”
(Al-Baqarah 2:228)
The word quru’ (قروء) has been interpreted as menstrual periods by some scholars and periods of purity by others, so there are differences between the schools over how the iddah is calculated.
For a woman who no longer menstruates, or does not menstruate, the iddah is three lunar months (Al-Talaq 65:4).
If she is pregnant, her iddah ends when she gives birth:
وَأُو۟لَـٰتُ ٱلْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ
“As for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth.”
(Al-Talaq 65:4)
If the marriage was not consummated, there is no iddah following divorce (Al-Ahzab 33:49).
What does a divorced woman do during her iddah?
In a revocable divorce (talaq raj’i), meaning the first or second talaq where the husband can still take his wife back, she remains legally his wife during the iddah.
She should normally remain in the marital home. Allah Almighty says:
لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِنۢ بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَـٰحِشَةٍۢ مُّبَيِّنَةٍۢ
“Do not expel them from their homes, nor should they leave, unless they commit a clear indecency.”
(Al-Talaq 65:1)
The purpose is not to imprison her, but to preserve the possibility of reconciliation:
لَا تَدْرِى لَعَلَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًا
“You do not know; perhaps Allah will bring about something after that.”
(Al-Talaq 65:1)
She may leave for legitimate needs, such as work, shopping, medical appointments or other necessary activities.
During a revocable iddah, her husband remains responsible for her accommodation and maintenance. They may reconcile before the iddah ends without performing a new nikah.
A divorced woman also does not have to observe mourning. She may dress normally, wear jewellery and use perfume, while observing the normal Islamic rules of modesty.
She cannot marry another man until her iddah has ended.
What if the divorce is final?
An irrevocable divorce (talaq ba’in) is different. The husband cannot simply take his wife back during the iddah.
Fatimah bint Qays (may Allah be pleased with her) was irrevocably divorced, and the Prophet ﷺ said regarding her:
لَيْسَ لَهَا سُكْنَى وَلَا نَفَقَةٌ
“She is not entitled to accommodation or maintenance.”
(Muslim)
There are differences between the schools of Islamic law concerning the accommodation and maintenance of an irrevocably divorced woman. Therefore, these matters should be checked according to the circumstances of the particular divorce.
How is the iddah of a widow different?
A widow who is not pregnant observes an iddah of four lunar months and ten days:
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَٰجًا يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍۢ وَعَشْرًا
“Those of you who die and leave wives behind, they shall wait by themselves for four months and ten days.”
(Al-Baqarah 2:234)
If she is pregnant, her iddah ends when she gives birth (Al-Talaq 65:4).
Unlike a divorcee, a widow also observes ihdad (إحداد), or mourning. The Prophet ﷺ said:
لَا يَحِلُّ لِامْرَأَةٍ تُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ أَنْ تُحِدَّ عَلَى مَيِّتٍ فَوْقَ ثَلَاثٍ إِلَّا عَلَى زَوْجٍ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا
“It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to mourn for a deceased person for more than three days, except for her husband: four months and ten days.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
During ihdad, she avoids perfume, jewellery and beautification. These mourning restrictions do not apply to a divorcee.
In short, the iddah of a divorcee is a waiting period during which she cannot remarry and, in a revocable divorce, there remains an opportunity for reconciliation. The iddah of a widow is longer and includes the additional requirement of mourning.