Iddah (waiting period)

Islamic Fiqh > Marriage and family > Iddah (waiting period)

Iddah by case: divorce (3 pure periods), death (4 months 10 days), pregnancy (until delivery), unconsummated wife, and residence during iddah.

Updated on 06 October 2026 at 10:50 PM

Sections of this page

The evidence among the classical schools

Bada'i al-Sana'i by al-Kasani · Hanafi school

...the waiting period ('idda) for the disbelieving woman, for our ruling applies to people under protection (dhimma), but our ruling does not apply to the woman in enemy territory. And there is no waiting period for the fornicator, whether pregnant or not, for from fornication does not follow the establishment of lineage.

Minah al-Jalil by al-Dardir · Maliki school

(Chapter) If an occasion (of a new period) occurs before the completion of a waiting period or purification (istibra), the first is annulled and a new one begins.

Chapter on the exposition of the rulings of the interlocking of waiting periods and purification.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the iddah last?

Three cycles after divorce; 4 months and 10 days after death; in pregnancy: until delivery (sura al-Baqara 234, at-Talaq 4).

Must the widow leave the home?

No: she stays there during the death iddah, without adornment; the house is maintained for her (sura al-Baqara 240's reported residence).

Can one remarry right after the iddah?

Yes, at its end: for the widow, no new-husband restriction; for the irreversibly divorced, a new contract with new mahr.

Sources and references

Other pages of this pillar

Explore other sections

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Wed 24 Rabi' al-Thani
الأربعاء 24 ربيع الآخر
هلال متناقص Waning Crescent Day 25.5 / 29.5
Illumination 17%
New moon in 4 days
اللهم صل على محمد O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا

God and His angels shower their blessings on the Prophet. O believers, you should also send your blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.

Al-Ahzab 33:56

Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ