What is the waiting period (iddah) for a divorced or Khul-divorced woman in the event of seclusion (khalwa) without consummation, what does the woman return to the man of the dowry (mahr) in divorce and Khul, and what are the rulings of the iddah?

If the seclusion between spouses is a valid seclusion, it is considered tantamount to consummation. Consequently, the waiting period (iddah) for a woman seeking annulment (khulʿ) and a divorced woman is the same: observing three menstrual cycles (quru’), as Allah Almighty says: {And divorced women shall wait by themselves for three menstrual cycles}. Since a valid seclusion completes the dower for the woman, the man does not take back any part of the dower after divorce or khulʿ, unless the khulʿ was agreed upon in exchange for the return of part or all of the dower, which is permissible as long as both parties have mutually agreed upon it.