Waiting Period (Iddah)

What is Iddah (Waiting Period) in Islam?

Muslim law (Fiqh) requires wives whose marriage has been dissolved, whether by repudiation, divorce (faskh), annulment, or the husband’s death, to observe a waiting period, in other words, a period of time during which she is prohibited from remarrying.

In general, any woman whose marriage ends after it was consummated is subject to this waiting period (Quran 2:228).

The waiting period is called “iddah” in Arabic.

It varies, not only depending on the way in which the marriage ended, but also depending on the wife’s individual situation.

The iddah is a continuation of the marriage, in other words, a waiting period during which a divorce declaration can be nullified if it is not final. During this period, the husband and wife continue to be legally married.

All Sunni legal schools agree on the principle of the waiting period (iddah) and the differences between them on this subject are minimal.

Why Is There A Waiting Period In Islam? – The Purpose and Importance of Iddah

There are several reasons for the waiting period in Islam as well as reasons as to why it is important:

• The waiting period (Iddah) ensures that the wife is not pregnant and avoids confusion about the identity of the child’s father if the wife remarries.

• The waiting period (Iddah) symbolically helps couples, families and the Ummah understand the importance and sacred nature of the marriage commitment.

• In case of divorce, the waiting period  (Iddah) allows the couple to reconsider their situation and to reconcile (rij’a).

• If the husband dies, the iddah expresses the wife’s devotion to her husband and her mourning.

Types of Iddah and Determining Factors (Length of Iddah)

The length of the waiting period depends on a combination of criteria related to the wife’s individual situation and the way in which the marriage ended.

1 – Pregnant Women: Iddah Ends with Birth

The waiting period for a pregnant woman ends when she gives birth (Quran 65:4).

A pregnant woman’s iddah lasts until she gives birth or until her pregnancy naturally ends, at a stage where the fetus has visibly developed its first organs.

2 – Women Who Are Not Pregnant: Different Scenarios

Two possible situations:

a) Husband’s Death: Four Months and Ten Days Iddah

If the husband dies, the waiting period is four months and ten days from the day he passed away (Quran 2:234).

b) Dissolution of The Islamic Marriage by Repudiation or Irrevocable Divorce

• Before Consummation: No Iddah Required

A wife who is divorced before the physical consummation of the marriage is not required to observe a waiting period (Quran 33:49). All four Sunni schools agree on this.

But, for the Hanafi, Maliki and Hanbali schools, if the husband is alone with his wife in such a way that would enable the couple to have physical relations, this situation is equivalent to consummation of the marriage. In this case, the wife must observe a waiting period.

For the Shafi’i school, this has no effect.

• After Consummation: Three Menstrual Cycles

The waiting period for a repudiated wife is three menstrual cycles, whether the woman is Muslim, Christian or Jewish (Quran 2:228).

3 – Missing Husband: Waiting Period Set by Judge

The waiting period for the wife of a man who has disappeared begins after a length of time set by a Muslim judge (qadi).

After the time set by the judge, the waiting period may begin and will be four months and ten days, just like for a woman whose husband has died.

4 – Women with Regular Periods: Three Menstrual Periods

For women who have regular periods, the waiting period is three menstrual periods (Quran 2:228)

The wife must have her menstrual period and be purified three times.

5 – Women Who No Longer Menstruate For Unknown Reasons

For a wife whose menstruation has stopped, if it cannot be determined why it stopped, the waiting period is one entire year or twelve months.

6 – Women Who No Longer Menstruate Due To Age

For a wife who no longer menstruates due to her age (menopause), the waiting period is three months (Quran 65:4).

Rules and Considerations During Iddah

In case of a revocable divorce, the husband may stop the waiting period at any time and allow their life together to resume.

• The wife’s waiting period begins on the day the divorce or repudiation is declared.

• During the waiting period, the wife remains in the husband’s house until the end of the period (Quran 65:1).

• A wife who has been divorced in a revocable manner may uncover her head in front of her husband during the waiting period.

• In case of a revocable divorce, the husband takes care of the wife’s material needs (Nafaqah)

• During the waiting period, the woman may not get remarried, nor may she receive or make a marriage proposal.

• Waiting periods also apply to Jewish and Christian wives.

Learn more about Ending a Muslim Marriage (Dissolution): Understanding Repudiation, Divorce & Alternatives here.

Consequences of Not Observing Iddah

Failure to observe the waiting period prevents the divorced woman from legitimately getting remarried.

All the legal schools agree on this point.

If a divorced woman gets remarried without observing her waiting period, the marriage is considered null and void.

Effect of The End of The Waiting Period In Case of Repudiation or Divorce

The end of the waiting period makes the dissolution of the marriage absolutely final.

Nothing remains of the marriage, marital obligations or maintenance obligations, and the wife is no longer prohibited from marrying another man.

The woman has truly become a “stranger” to her former husband. Before Consummation