How it is calculated
| Situation | Iddah |
|---|---|
| Divorced woman who menstruates (marriage consummated) | Three quru’: three menstrual periods (Hanafi, Hanbali) or three purity intervals (Maliki, Shafi’i) |
| Divorced woman who does not menstruate | Three lunar months |
| Pregnant (divorced or widowed) | Until childbirth |
| Widow (not pregnant) | Four lunar months and ten days |
| Divorced before consummation | No iddah |
Nifas has no minimum; its maximum is 40 days for Hanafis and Hanbalis and 60 days for Malikis and Shafi’is.
Months are counted in the Hijri calendar; cycle-based iddah is an estimate since it depends on actual periods.
Worked example
A woman widowed on 1 Ramadan 1447 AH completes her iddah four lunar months and ten days later, around 11 Muharram 1448 AH.
Frequently asked questions
When does iddah start?
On the day of the divorce or death, even if she only learns of it later.
Does a revocable divorce change the iddah?
No; the iddah is the same, but in a revocable divorce the husband may take her back before it ends.
What if cycles are irregular?
Actual periods count however long they take; the calculator only estimates from an average cycle.