Do the waiting months (ʿiddah) begin after a verbal divorce or after an officially documented written divorce?

A husband should not divorce his wife merely due to the desire of his parents. The phrase "you are divorced by three" is an explicit divorce, resulting in an irrevocable divorce (Bainūnah Kubrā), meaning she is not permissible for her husband until she marries another man of her own free will and he divorves her after consummation. This is the preponderant view of the majority of scholars. Ibn Taymiyyah, however, holds that it counts as a single divorce.

If the wife menstruates, her waiting period (iddah) is three menstrual cycles, counted from the time the divorce was uttered, based on the verse: "And divorced women shall wait concerning themselves for three menstrual periods." (Quran 2:228). If she does not menstruate due to youth, old age, or illness, her waiting period is three months, counted from the time the divorce occurred, according to the majority of scholars, based on the verse: "And as for those who no longer expect menstruation among your women - if you doubt, then their waiting period is three months, and [for] those who have not menstruated." (Quran 65:4). If she is pregnant, her waiting period is until she delivers her entire pregnancy, based on the verse: "And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they deliver their burdens." (Quran 65:4).

Documenting the divorce is not a condition for its occurrence, but it is the correct approach to preserve rights.