The word · Law & life
عِدَّة
'Iddah
The waiting period a woman observes after divorce or a husband's death before remarrying.
Also written · Iddah · Idda · Iddat · Eddah · Iddah period · Idat · waiting period · post divorce waiting · widow waiting period · quru
The meaning
What 'Iddah means in Islam
After divorce it is three quru', which Hanafis and Hanbalis read as menstrual cycles and Malikis and Shafi'is as the purities between them, or three months for a woman who does not menstruate; after a husband's death, four months and ten days; and if she is pregnant, until she gives birth. Its purposes are to show there is no pregnancy, to leave room for reconciliation, and to mark the ending. In a revocable divorce she keeps housing and maintenance, and the husband may take her back without a new contract.
Evidence · Qur’an · Stated directly in the Qur’an
Read beside it
Words that sit beside it
- TalaqDivorce pronounced by the husband, which Islamic law permits but treats as a last resort.طَلاق
- Khul'Divorce sought by the wife, usually by returning the mahr in exchange for her release.خُلْع
- NafaqahMaintenance: the husband's duty to provide housing, food and clothing for wife and children.نَفَقة
- NikahThe Islamic marriage contract, formed by offer, acceptance, witnesses and a mahr.نِكاح
More from Law & life
- 'AqdA contract: a binding agreement formed by an offer and its acceptance.عَقْد
- FardObligatory: required by decisive evidence, and sinful to abandon without an excuse.فَرْض
- HijabThe covering a Muslim woman wears in public, most often a headscarf with modest clothing.حِجاب
- MahrThe gift of money or property the groom owes the bride, which belongs to her alone.مَهْر
- MurabahahA sale at a disclosed cost plus markup, widely used in Islamic banking in place of lending.مُرابَحة
- RukhsahA concession: permission to do the easier thing when a recognised excuse applies.رُخْصة