Fiqh (Jurisprudence)
Iddah
ʿIddah
The waiting period a woman observes after divorce or her husband's death before she may remarry, to confirm absence of pregnancy and allow for reconciliation.
What is the Iddah?
The iddah is the prescribed waiting period a woman observes after divorce or the death of her husband, during which she may not enter a new marriage. It has multiple purposes: to confirm that she is not pregnant by the previous husband (preserving lineage), to honour the seriousness of the marriage bond, to grant a period of mourning in the case of widowhood, and — in the case of revocable divorce — to leave room for the spouses to reconcile.
Its Lengths in the Quran
- Divorced woman who menstruates: "Divorced women shall wait by themselves for three menstrual periods..." (Quran 2:228).
- Widow: "And those of you who die and leave wives — they shall wait by themselves for four months and ten days..." (Quran 2:234).
- Pregnant woman (divorce or widowhood): "And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they deliver their burden..." (Quran 65:4).
- Woman who does not menstruate (very young or post-menopausal): three lunar months (Quran 65:4).
- Marriage not consummated: no iddah at all in case of divorce before consummation (Quran 33:49).
What Is Required and Permitted
During the iddah a woman generally remains in her marital home (Quran 65:1). She is not allowed to enter a new marriage and, in widowhood, she observes a period of mourning (ihdad) by avoiding adornment, perfume and conspicuous attire (Bukhari 5334, Muslim 1488). Her maintenance, accommodation, and rights are detailed at length by the scholars in each school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the iddah period required?
The most fundamental reason is to ascertain that the woman is not pregnant, so that the lineage of any child is clear. Beyond this, the iddah honours the dignity of marriage, gives time for mourning in the case of death, and allows space for reconciliation in revocable divorce.
Can a woman leave the house during her iddah?
The general ruling is that she remains in her marital home, but the scholars detail many exceptions: medical needs, essential errands, work where required by genuine need, and so on. The aim is not isolation, but the seriousness and seclusion appropriate to the period.
Etymology & origin
Iddah (العدة) is from the root ʿ-D-D ("to count, to enumerate"), referring to the counted period of waiting prescribed for a woman after divorce or the death of her husband before she may remarry.
References
- Quran:
- 2:228, 2:234, 65:1, 65:4, 33:49
- Hadith:
- Bukhari 5334 / Muslim 1488 (the mourning of the widow during her iddah is four months and ten days); Bukhari 5336 / Muslim 1486 (a woman shall not mourn for more than three days except for a husband); Bukhari 5320 (Subay'ah al-Aslamiyyah giving birth shortly after her husband's death and being permitted to remarry — pregnancy iddah ends with delivery)
Related terms
Khula
Divorce initiated by the wife — she returns the dowry or agrees on compensation in exchange for the husband releasing her from the marriage.
Mahr
The obligatory bridal gift — a sum or property given by the groom to the bride as her exclusive right upon marriage. It is a pillar of the marriage contract.
Nikah
The Islamic marriage contract — a sacred covenant between a man and woman, requiring offer and acceptance, witnesses, a dowry (mahr), and the bride's consent.
Talaq
Divorce initiated by the husband — the dissolution of marriage. Though lawful, it is described as the most disliked of permitted acts to Allah.