What are the rights of a wife if she is divorced before consummation, whether the divorce was at her request, or at the husband's request, or by mutual agreement, knowing that there is no deferred dowry, and a list of furnishings that have not yet been delivered was signed, and is it obligatory to inform the family and a future husband about what happened between the spouses in terms of seclusion and foreplay?
If the khalwa (private seclusion) between the spouses was valid (meaning intercourse could ordinarily take place), then the wife is obligated to observe the iddah (waiting period), and she is entitled to the full mahr (dowry), even if no actual intercourse occurred. This is the established legal opinion (mufta bihi). As for the list of items (القائمة), if custom dictates that it is part of the sadaq (dowry) and its contents were not purchased, then it is a debt owed by the husband. If the khalwa was not valid, then the wife is entitled to half of the named sadaq. Informing the family should be limited to what establishes rights, such as the iddah and the mahr, and there is no obligation to inform a future husband about what transpired with the first husband.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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