What is the legal ruling for a divorced woman who did not observe the waiting period due to her fear of losing her job and her need to support her two daughters?

An iddah (definition) (waiting period) observer must stay in her home until her iddah ends, based on the Almighty's saying: "Do not expel them from their homes, nor should they leave," and the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) saying to Furayah bint Malik: "Stay in your home until the decree reaches its term."

As for the Hanbalis, they believe that a revocably divorced woman resides wherever her husband wishes, while an irrevocably divorced woman (by annulment or divorce) observes her iddah wherever she wishes. They prohibit a widow from leaving at night but permit her to leave during the day.

The Hanafis distinguished between the iddah of widowhood and divorce. They permitted a widow to leave during the day, but prohibited a divorced woman due to the obligation of her maintenance.

If there is a pressing need, there is no harm in leaving, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Jabir's aunt: "Go out and harvest your date palms, perhaps you will give charity and do good."

The iddah of a pregnant woman ends upon childbirth. The iddah of a menstruating woman is three menstrual cycles. A woman who has despaired of menstruation observes an iddah of three months, based on the Almighty's saying: "Divorced women remain in waiting for three periods," and "And those who no longer expect menstruation among your women – if you doubt, then their waiting period is three months."