Is it permissible to marry a divorced Christian woman in an undocumented marriage, knowing that she has not seen her former husband for more than a year and has had more than 10 menstrual cycles since their last intimate contact?

Allah has permitted a Muslim man to marry a chaste woman from the People of the Book (Jewish or Christian), based on His saying, "And chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you" (Al-Ma'idah: 5). It is permissible to marry her after the expiration of her waiting period (iddah (definition)), which is three menstrual cycles after divorce, or the delivery of her child for a pregnant woman, or three months for one who does not menstruate, based on His saying, "And divorced women remain in waiting for three periods" (Al-Baqarah: 127). The waiting period does not begin until after the divorce. It is preferable for a Muslim man to marry a Muslim woman of religious devotion due to the risks involved in marrying women from the People of the Book.