Fiqh al-'Idda — The Waiting Period: The Obligatory Period a Woman Must Observe After Divorce or Widowhood Before She May Remarry, Its Different Durations Depending on Her Situation (Three Menstrual Cycles After Divorce, Four Months and Ten Days After Widowhood, Until Delivery if Pregnant), and Its Purposes of Establishing Paternity, Allowing for Reconciliation, and Honoring the Marriage Bond

Fiqh al-'Idda (فِقهُ العِدَّة — Jurisprudence of the Waiting Period; *'idda*: the waiting period, the enumerated period; from *'-d-d*: to count, to enumerate; the Quranic verses: 2:228 'Divorced women shall wait three menstrual periods [quru'] and it is not lawful for them to conceal what God has created in their wombs if they believe in God and the Last Day'; 2:234 'Those among you who die and leave behind wives — they shall wait four months and ten days'; 65:1-7 [Surah al-Talaq]: detailed rulings on 'idda including the case of pregnant women [wait until delivery]; the different types of 'idda: [1] 'idda al-talaq [after divorce — for a wife with regular menstruation]: three quru' [2:228]; quru' = menstrual cycles OR pure periods between cycles; the Hanafi and Hanbali position: quru' = menstrual cycles [hayd]; 'idda ends after three complete menstrual cycles; the Shafi'i and Maliki position: quru' = tuhr [pure periods between cycles]; the 'idda ends when three pure periods pass [beginning of the third being the end]; [2] 'idda al-wafat [after husband's death]: four months and ten days [2:234]; applies whether or not the marriage was consummated; the rationale: the longer period honors the marriage bond; [3] 'idda al-hamil [when pregnant]: until delivery [65:4]; the rationale: the delivery definitively establishes what is in the womb; [4] 'idda of the woman who does not menstruate [post-menopausal or pre-menopausal with amenorrhea]: three calendar months [65:4]; [5] 'idda of the woman whose husband died before consummation: no 'idda [the marriage was not consummated, so no paternity question arises]; most schools: half-mahr must be paid, but no 'idda; the purposes of 'idda: [a] istibra' [clearing the womb]: ensuring that any child born during the 'idda is attributed to the previous husband; paternity establishment; modern DNA testing creates a significant question: if paternity can be established scientifically, does the istibra' purpose remain sufficient to require 'idda?; the mainstream scholarly position: 'idda has multiple purposes beyond paternity; it is a Quranic obligation and cannot be waived by technological alternatives; [b] imkanu ruj'a [possibility of return]: during the first divorce's 'idda, the husband may revoke the divorce [raj'a] without a new marriage contract; the 'idda provides a period for reflection and possible reconciliation; [c] ihtiramu al-zawaj [honoring the marriage bond]: especially the 'idda al-wafat — the widow observes a period of modified mourning [avoiding adornment, perfume, going out] that honors the deceased husband; this is ihdad [mourning]; her obligations: during 'idda, the wife must remain in the marital home [she should not be evicted — 65:1]; the husband must provide maintenance during revocable-divorce 'idda; maintenance during irrevocable-divorce 'idda is disputed; Hanafi: yes; Shafi'i: only if pregnant; the 'idda and the law of nations: modern states must accommodate 'idda in their personal status laws; in Muslim-majority states with codified family law, 'idda is typically incorporated; non-Muslim states with Muslim minorities face questions about recognizing 'idda-based marriage restrictions) is the Islamic law of the transition from marriage to post-marriage status.