Is my marriage to a Christian woman who embraced Islam after six months Islamically valid, given that the marriage contract took place a month and a half after her divorce and I was unaware of the waiting period ('iddah), and what are the implications of that?
If a divorced woman menstruates, her waiting period ('iddah) is three menstrual cycles, based on the Almighty’s saying: "Divorced women shall wait concerning themselves for three menstrual periods." As for the young and those who have ceased menstruating (al-ā'isah), their waiting period is three months. A pregnant woman's 'iddah ends upon delivery. Marriage to a woman who is still within her waiting period is invalid and must be annulled. The marriage is not valid even if there was no knowledge of the waiting period. A Kitābīyah (woman of the People of the Book) observes 'iddah like a Muslim woman. If the divorced woman has completed her prescribed waiting period, then it is permissible to marry her, provided the conditions for a valid marriage are met.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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