Iddat
Iddat is the period of waiting for a woman after divorce or death of her husband. According to the Hanafi Math-hab the iddat for talaaq is a period of three haidhs (menstrual periods), while in terms of the Shaafi’i Math-hab the iddat is three tuhrs. A tuhr is the period of purity between two haidhs.
The following are some of the rules to be observed by women during the iddat period:
- It is not permissible for her to adorn herself by applying perfume, etc.
- She has to compulsorily pass the iddat in the house where she normally lived in while married.
- She may leave the house for a valid reason, e.g. danger or in search of livelihood if there is no one to care for her.
- She may not entertain any proposal for marriage during her iddat, nor is it permissible for others to discuss any such proposal with her.
The iddat of a widow is four months and ten days, to be calculated according to the Islamic (lunar) calendar.
If the husband dies during the first night of the Islamic month, the iddat will be calculated in terms of the Islamic months whether the months have 29 or 30 days.
However, if the husband dies after the first night of an Islamic month, the iddat will be exactly 130 days, ending on the 130th day at the precise time the husband died four months and ten days ago.
The iddat of a pregnant woman lasts until the delivery of the baby.
(The Majlis Archives)