Question:
Assalamualaikum
could you kindly answer a query on Iddah.
if the purpose of Iddah is “The primary object of ‘Iddah is imposed to ascertain whether the woman is pregnant so that the paternity of the child that may be born to her after the death of her husband or the dissolution of her marriage may be determined.” (ask imam.com)
then if the husband and wife have been separated for a while and no sexual activities took place in that time, then still why does the women have to observe Iddah on being divorced although they have met sexually but very long ago.
it is obvious that there is no child going to be born anyway.
Wassalaam
Answer:
Iddah is the legally prescribed period of waiting, during which a woman may not remarry after being widowed or divorced. The observance of Iddah is an ordinance of Allah and should therefore be discharged at its prescribed time. The period of separation in which no sexual activities took place will not affect the Iddah in anyway.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Ebrahim bin Zainul Abedeen Backus
Attested to as correct by:
Mufti Muhammad Ashraf
Darul Iftaa
Jameah Mahmoodiyah
Springs
25 April 2005
16 Rabee’ul Awwal 1426