Is it permissible to separate from the wife now, knowing that one has had intercourse with her two days ago and she is taking a contraceptive that delays her menstrual period by two days, or must one wait until she menstruates and becomes pure to avoid sin, and would separating now be considered an innovation (bid‘ah)?

The husband is advised to strive for reconciliation and avoid divorce except in cases of extreme necessity, in accordance with the Almighty's saying: "And if you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah makes therein much good."

If the decision for divorce is settled, it must be in accordance with the Sunnah: that the husband waits until the wife menstruates and then becomes pure, whereupon he divorces her in a period of purity during which he has not had intercourse with her. It is forbidden to divorce her during a period of purity in which he has had intercourse with her; if he divorces her during a period of purity in which he has had intercourse with her, he has sinned, and his divorce is valid. It does not matter whether menstruation will be delayed due to birth control or not.