Write a short note on Iddat under Muslim Law.

Question: Write a short note on Iddat under Muslim Law.

Find the question and answer of Muslim Law only on Legal Bites. [Write a short note on Iddat under Muslim Law.]

Answer

Iddat is commonly known as Iddah. It generally means a period of waiting or chastity that a married Muslim woman is supposed to observe, following the separation from her husband either due to the death of the husband or divorce. The purpose of iddat is to ascertain whether the woman is pregnant and avoid any confusion as to paternity. It is mentioned in Quran as well as under Section-2(b) of The Muslim Women Act, 1986.

Duration of Iddat

• The duration of iddat in the case of a woman who is pregnant at the time of her husband's death the period of iddat is four lunar months and ten days or until delivery, whichever period is longer but if the woman is not pregnant, the period is four months and ten days.
• In the case of divorce, if a woman is subject to menstruation, the period of iddat is three courses but if the woman is pregnant at the time of divorce, the iddat lasts until delivery whether it is less or more than three months and if the woman is not subject to menstruation, it is three lunar months. The husband is bound to maintain the wife during the period of iddat.

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