What is the ruling on a woman marrying another man عرفيًا (through an informal, un-registered marriage contract) while the procedures for her divorce from her absent husband, who has been gone for six months, have not yet been completed, and she is still legally his wife?

If a woman marries before her divorce or khul‘ (divorce at the wife's instance) is finalized and her waiting period (‘iddah) has ended, then her marriage is invalid, and she must separate from the man and repent. However, if an irrevocable divorce (talaq bain) or khul‘ has occurred and the waiting period has ended, but no official document has been issued, then her marriage is permissible. We also draw attention to the danger of a Muslim residing in non-Muslim countries unless certain conditions are met.