Is it obligatory to observe the iddah (waiting period) in the marital home after divorce, and is it considered a sin to agree not to formalize the divorce while physically separated, when the wife desires independence?

If the divorce is revocable, the wife must remain in the marital home until her 'iddah (waiting period) ends, and it is not permissible for her to leave it, nor is it permissible for the husband to expel her from it, based on the Almighty’s saying: "Do not expel them from their homes, nor should they leave, unless they commit a clear immorality." However, if the divorce is irrevocable, the wife may observe her 'iddah in another safe home. The wife, being under the protection of her husband, must obey him in what is good, and she may not leave his house except with his permission, nor may she deny herself to him except for a valid excuse. If the husband agrees to her staying in another home with her children, there is no objection as long as it is by mutual consent, but he has the right to demand his due. It is incumbent upon both spouses to coexist amicably and strive for reconciliation, as divorce is the last resort.