Is there an idda (waiting period) for a foreign Christian woman divorced from a Christian man, and if there is an idda for her, what is its duration and when does it begin?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The Christian woman is obligated to observe the waiting period () just like the Muslim woman. Her iddah begins from the moment her husband pronounces the divorce or the judge issues a ruling. This is the view of the majority of scholars, such as Malik, Al-Thawri, Al-Shafi'i, Abu 'Ubayd, and the proponents of juristic opinion. They based their reasoning on the generality of the Almighty's saying: "And those of you who die and leave wives behind them, they (the wives) shall wait (as regards their marriage) for four months and ten days."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/87554
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 87554
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy