What is the 'iddah (waiting period) required of a wife in the event of divorce, and is it permissible for the husband to take her back into his marriage after divorcing her but before consummating the marriage, knowing that the reason for the divorce was the intervention of the wife's father?

A Muslim should strive to unite the hearts of Muslims, not divide them. If he learns of a brother's mistake, he should conceal it and advise him. Divulging the private matters of Muslims to cause separation between spouses is a serious matter, for "he is not of us who incites a woman against her husband."

Divorce is in the hands of the husband, not the wife or her guardian. Therefore, the wife's father has no right to compel you to divorce her. If you divorce her before consummation and without privacy, the divorce is irrevocable, she has no 'iddah (waiting period), and you owe her half of the dowry. If you wish to marry her again, a new contract fulfilling all conditions is required.