ASSALAM-O-ALAIKUM Respected Mufti Sahab! I have a very serious problem to discuss with you.My husband divorced me thrice (verbally) in one sitting just 4 months back.I am a working lady.I am very ashamed that I did not follow the rules of iddah strictly as prescribed by the Shariah. Though I did not indulge in any immoral and bad activity nor I contracted marriage with anybody during the whole period of iddah but one mistake I commited is that I couldn?t confine myself within the boundaries of my house and went outside during my iddah due to my job and some other domestic reasons for which I am feeling very guilty today as I have gone through some Islamic material (after the completion of my Iddah) about the rules of Iddah and found myself deviating the rules as prescribed by Islam.I repent and admit my sin and Pray to ALLAH to forgive me. The period of iddah is over now.Now what is the way to correct the past mistake?I again say that i am very much ashamed of my act of not following the rules of iddah completely.But when my eyes opened the time was over.I did tauba full heartedly and asked ALLAH for forgiveness.But my heart is very heavy due to this sin.I want to ask what is the kafara of this mistake?Should I obseve the iddah again following shariah’s rules or the time is over as I passed the period of iddah.One thing more,keeping in view the whole scenario, can I marry someone else?Is it permissible as my iddah has been passed contradictory to the rules of shariah?Will my second marriage be Halal islamically.Please guide me and also pray for me.
Answer
(Fatwa: 470/L=154/tl=1431)
(1) Your iddah period is over, now you need not to pass your iddah period again. However, do tauba and istighfar from the core of your heart for violating Islamic rules during iddah period. This is its kaffarah (expiation).
(2) Your iddah was completed though you did not follow the rules of iddah completely, now you can remarry.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband