Understanding the Purpose of ‘Iddah: The Waiting Period for Women in Islam

The Significance of ‘Iddah: Protecting Lineage, Marriage, and Rights in Islam

Why Do Women Have Waiting Period (‘Iddah)?

Ibn Al-Qayyim rahimahullah said:

The purpose of the ‘Iddah is to:

1. Ascertain that there is no pregnancy, so that the water (semen) of two or more men will not be present in one womb, lest lineages become mixed, leading to negative consequences that are prohibited by sharee‘ah and wisdom. 

2. To highlight the importannce of this marriage contract and show how great and honourable it is. 

3. To give ample time to a man who has issued divorce to take her back, because he may regret it and decide to take her back, so he has ample time to do so. 

4. To fulfil the rights of the husband (in the event of his death) and highlight the impact of his loss in the prohibition of adorning herself. Hence the prescribed period of mourning for the husband is longer than that for a parent to a child. 

5. To protect the rights of the husband and the interests of the wife, the rights of the child and the rights of Allah that He has enjoined.

[I‘laam Al-Muwaqqi’een (2/50)]