At-Talaq Verse 4

As for your women past the age of menstruation, in case you do not know, their waiting period is three months, and those who have not menstruated as well. As for those who are pregnant, their waiting period ends with delivery.[[ This applies to pregnant women who are divorced or widowed. ]] And whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make their matters easy for them.

As for those women from among you who reached their menopause, in case you doubt, their waiting period is three months, as well as of those who have not yet menstruated. As for pregnant women, their waiting period ends with delivery. And whoever fears Allah, He will make his matters easy for him.

As for your women who have despaired of further menstruating, if you are in doubt, their period shall be three months; and those who have not menstruated as yet. And those who are with child, their term is when they bring forth their burden. Whoso fears God, God will appoint for him, of His command, easiness.

If you are in doubt, the period of waiting will be three months for those women who have ceased menstruating and for those who have not [yet] menstruated; the waiting period of those who are pregnant will be until they deliver their burden: God makes things easy for those who are mindful of Him.

And as to such of your women as have despaired of menstruation, if ye be in doubt thereof, their waiting period is three months, as also of those who have not yet menstruated. And as to those with burthens, their term is when they lay down their burthen. And whosoever feareth Allah, He maketh his affair Unto him easy.

Such of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the prescribed period, if ye have any doubts, is three months, and for those who have no courses (it is the same); for those who carry (life within their wombs), their period is until they deliver their burdens; and for those who fear Allah, He will make their path easy.

The waiting period of those of your women who have lost all expectation of menstruation shall be three months in case you entertain any doubt; and the same shall apply to those who have not yet menstruated. As for pregnant women, their waiting period shall be until the delivery of their burden. Allah will create ease for him who fears Allah.

As for your women who have lost hope of menstruation, and in case you have a doubt, the prescribed period (of waiting) for them is three months, as also for those who have not menstruated yet. As for those who are pregnant, their prescribed period is until the delivery of the child. God will make things easy for him who is mindful of God.

And for those of your women who have no hope of menstruation, if you doubt, the appointed period is three months – and also for those who have not yet had menstruation; and the appointed period for the pregnant women is up to the time they deliver their burden; and whoever fears Allah – Allah will create ease for him in his affairs.

As for those of your wives who have ceased having menses—[or] if you have any doubts [concerning its cause, whether it’s is age or something else]—their term [of waiting] and of those who have not yet had menses, shall be three months. As for those who are pregnant, their term shall be until they deliver. And whoever is wary of Allah, He shall grant him ease in his affairs.

Those of your women who have passed the age of monthly courses (or those who for some reason do not have monthly periods) – if you are in uncertainty about it – their waiting-period is three (lunar) months. As for the women who are pregnant (whether divorced or widows), their waiting-period is until they deliver their burden. Whoever keeps from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and piety, He makes his affair easy for him.

If you are in doubt (how to calculate the period) of such of your women as have despaired of monthly courses, then (know that) period for which they must wait is three months and (the same holds good) for such women as have not menstruated (for some other reasons). And (as to) pregnant women, their term (will end) when they are delivered of their burden (after giving birth to a child). And (bear in mind) for the one who keeps his duty to Allâh, He will provide facility in his affair for him.

And those (F) who became infertile/despaired from the menstruation from your women, if you became doubtful/suspicious, so their term/count (is) three months, and those (F) who did not menstruate, and (those) of the pregnant , their term/time (is) that (E) they (F) give birth/drop their (F) off spring/loads/pregnancies , and who fears and obeys God, He makes/puts from his matter/affair ease/flexibility.

And for those of your women who have no hope of menstruation, if you doubt, the appointed period is three months - and also for those who have not yet had menstruation; and the appointed period for the pregnant women is up to the time they deliver their burden; and whoever fears Allah – Allah will create ease for him in his affairs.

And as for those of your women who have despaired (passed the age) of menstruation, if you have a doubt, their prescribed time shall be three months, and of those too who have not had their courses. As for the pregnant women, their prescribed time is that they bring forth their burden (give birth); and whoever is careful of their duty to Allah He will make easy for him his path.

And those of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the 'Iddah (prescribed period), if you have doubts (about their periods), is three months, and for those who have no courses [(i.e. they are still immature) their 'Iddah (prescribed period) is three months likewise, except in case of death]. And for those who are pregnant (whether they are divorced or their husbands are dead), their 'Iddah (prescribed period) is until they deliver (their burdens), and whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him.

Lodge them where you live according to your means, and injure them not to straiten them. And if they are pregnant, spend on them until they lay down their burden. Then if they suckle for you, give them their recompense, and enjoin one another to do good; and if you disagree, another will suckle for him.

And (as for) those of your women who have despaired of menstruation, if you have a doubt, their prescribed time shall be three months, and of those too who have not had their courses; and (as for) the pregnant women, their prescribed time is that they lay down their burden; and whoever is careful of (his duty to) Allah He will make easy for him his affair.

And for such of your women as despair of menstruation, if ye doubt, their period (of waiting) shall be three months, along with those who have it not. And for those with child, their period shall be till they bring forth their burden. And whosoever keepeth his duty to Allah, He maketh his course easy for him.

If you have any doubt whether your wives have reached the stage of menopause, the waiting period will be three months. This will also be the same for those who do not experience menstruation. The end of the waiting period for a pregnant woman is the delivery. God will make the affairs of one who fears Him easy.

As for your women who have despaired of further menstruating, if you are in doubt, then their waiting period is three months as well as those who have not yet menstruated. As for those who are pregnant, their term shall be the time they deliver their burden. Allah will ease (matters) by His order for whosoever fears Him.

Those in menopause among your women, for them the `Iddah, if you have doubt, is three months; and for those who have no courses. And for those who are pregnant, their `Iddah is until they lay down their burden; and whosoever has Taqwa of Allah, He will make his matter easy for him.

In the case of those of your wives who have passed the age of menstruation, if you have any doubt, know that their waiting period is three months; and that will apply likewise to those who have not yet menstruated; the waiting period of those who are pregnant will be until they deliver their burden [give birth]. God makes things easy for those who are mindful of Him.

As for those of your women who have reached menopause, if you have any doubts, their term shall be three months—and also for those who have not yet menstruated. As for those who are pregnant, their term shall be until they have delivered. Whoever fears God—He will make things easy for him.

And [as for] those of your women who (read all' or all'i in both instances) no longer expect to menstruate, if you have any doubts, about their waiting period, their prescribed [waiting] period shall be three months, and [also for] those who have not yet menstruated, because of their young age, their period shall [also] be three months -- both cases apply to other than those whose spouses have died; for these [latter] their period is prescribed in the verse; they shall wait by themselves for four months and ten [days] [Q. 2;234]. And those who are pregnant, their term, the conclusion of their prescribed [waiting] period if divorced or if their spouses be dead, shall be when they deliver. And whoever fears God, He will make matters ease for him, in this world and in the Hereafter.

The `Iddah of Those in Menopause and Those Who do not have Menses

Allah the Exalted clarifies the waiting period of the woman in menopause,

وَاللَّيِي يَيِسْنَ مِنَ الْمَحِيضِ مِن نِّسَايِكُمْ إِنِ ارْتَبْتُمْ فَعِدَّتُهُنَّ ثَلَاثَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَاللَّيِي لَمْ يَحِضْنَ

Those in menopause among your women, for them the `Iddah, if you have doubt, is three months; and for those who have no courses.

Allah the Exalted clarifies the waiting period of the woman in menopause. And that is the one whose menstruation has stopped due to her older age. Her `Iddah is three months instead of the three monthly cycles for those who menstruate, which is based upon the Ayah in Surah Al-Baqarah. (2;228) The same for the young, who have not reached the years of menstruation. Their `Iddah is three months like those in menopause. This is the meaning of His saying;
وَاللَّيِي لَمْ يَحِضْنَ
(and for those who have no courses...).

As for His saying;
إِنِ ارْتَبْتُمْ
(if you have doubt...) There are two opinions;

- First, is the saying of a group of the Salaf, like Mujahid, Az-Zuhri and Ibn Zayd. That is, if they see blood and there is doubt if it was menstrual blood or not.

- The second, is that if you do not know the ruling in this case, then know that their `Iddah is three months.

This has been reported from Sa`id bin Jubayr and it is the view preferred by Ibn Jarir.

And this is the more obvious meaning. Supporting this view is what is reported from Ubay bin Ka`b that he said,

"O Allah's Messenger! Some women were not mentioned in the Qur'an, the young, the old and the pregnant."

Allah the Exalted and Most Honored sent down this Ayah,

وَاللَّيِي يَيِسْنَ مِنَ الْمَحِيضِ مِن نِّسَايِكُمْ إِنِ ارْتَبْتُمْ فَعِدَّتُهُنَّ ثَلَاثَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَاللَّيِي لَمْ يَحِضْنَ

وَأُوْلَاأتُ الاْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ

حَمْلَهُنَّ

Those in menopause among your women, for them the `Iddah, if you have doubt, is three months; and for those who have no courses. And for those who are pregnant, their `Iddah is until they lay down their burden.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded a simpler narration than this one from Ubay bin Ka`b who said,

"O Allah's Messenger! When the Ayah in Surah Al-Baqarah was revealed prescribing the `Iddah of divorce, some people in Al-Madinah said,

`There are still some women whose `Iddah has not been mentioned in the Qur'an. There are the young, the old whose menstruation is discontinued, and the pregnant.'

Later on, this Ayah was revealed,

وَاللَّيِي يَيِسْنَ مِنَ الْمَحِيضِ مِن نِّسَايِكُمْ إِنِ ارْتَبْتُمْ فَعِدَّتُهُنَّ ثَلَاثَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَاللَّيِي لَمْ يَحِضْنَ

Those in menopause among your women, for them the `Iddah, if you have doubt, is three months; and for those who have no courses."
`Iddah of Pregnant Women

Allah's statement,

وَأُوْلَاأتُ الاْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ

حَمْلَهُنَّ

And for those who are pregnant, their `Iddah is until they lay down their burden;

Allah says;the pregnant woman's `Iddah ends when she gives birth, whether in the case of divorce or death of the husband, according to the agreement of the majority of scholars of the Salaf and later generations.

This is based upon this honorable Ayah and what is mentioned in the Prophetic Sunnah.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Salamah said,

"A man came to Ibn Abbas while Abu Hurayrah was sitting with him and said, `Give me your verdict regarding a lady who delivered a baby forty days after the death of her husband.'

Ibn `Abbas said,` Her `Iddah period lasts until the end of the longest among the two prescribed periods.'

I recited,
وَأُوْلَاأتُ الاْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ

حَمْلَهُنَّ
(For those who are pregnant, their prescribed period is until they deliver their burdens);

Abu Hurayrah said, `I agree with my cousin (Abu Salamah).'

Then Ibn `Abbas sent his slave Kurayb to Umm Salamah to ask her. She replied,

`The husband of Subay`ah Al-Aslamiyyah was killed while she was pregnant, and she delivered a baby forty days after his death. Then she received a marriage proposal and Allah's Messenger married her to somebody. Abu As-Sanabil was one of those who proposed to her."

Al-Bukhari collected this short form of the Hadith, which Muslim and other scholars of Hadith collected using its longer form.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Miswar bin Makhramah said,

"Subay`ah Al-Aslamiyyah gave birth to a child a few days after the death of her husband. When she finished the post delivery term, she was proposed to. So she sought the permission of Allah's Messenger for the marriage, and he permitted her to marry, so she got married."

Al-Bukhari collected this narration, as did Muslim, Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah with a different chain of narration from the Hadith of Subay`ah.

Muslim bin Al-Hajjaj recorded that;

Ubaydullah bin Abdullah bin Utbah said that his father wrote to Umar bin Abdullah bin Al-Arqam Az-Zuhri, requesting that he go to Subay`ah bint Al-Harith Al-Aslamiyyah to ask her about the matter in question, and about what Allah's Messenger said to her when she sought his verdict.

Umar bin Abdullah wrote to Ubaydullah bin Abdullah bin Utbah informing him that

Subay`ah told him that she had been married to Sa`d bin Khawlah, and he was one of those who participated in the battle of Badr. He died during the Farewell Pilgrimage, while she was pregnant. Soon after his death, she gave birth. When she passed the postnatal term, she beautified herself for those who might propose to her.

Abu As-Sanabil bin Ba`kak came to her and said, `Why do I see you have beautified yourself? Do you wish to remarry? By Allah, you cannot marry unless four months and ten days have passed."

Subay`ah said, "When he said that, I dressed myself in the evening and went to Allah's Messenger and asked him about his verdict.

He gave me a religious verdict that I was allowed to marry after I had given birth to my child, saying I could marry if I wish."

This is the narration that Muslim collected.

Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith in a shorter form.

Allah's statement,

وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ يُسْرًا



and whosoever has Taqwa of Allah, He will make his matter easy for him.

means, Allah will make his matters lenient for him and will soon bring forth relief and a quick way out