What Does Idda (Waiting Period) Mean in Arabic?
عِدَّة
idda
Root: ع د د
Idda (Waiting Period) Idda is the mandatory waiting period a woman must observe after divorce or the death of her husband before remarrying. For a divorced woman it is three menstrual cycles (or three months); for a widow it is four months and ten days; if pregnant, until delivery. The husband must provide maintenance during idda. Idda allows for possible reconciliation and prevents confusion of lineage.
The root of Idda (Waiting Period) (idda) appears 7 times in the Quran, reflecting its foundational importance in Islamic theology and practice.
Frequently Asked Questions about Idda (Waiting Period)
What does Idda (Waiting Period) mean in Islam?
Idda is the mandatory waiting period a woman must observe after divorce or the death of her husband before remarrying. For a divorced woman it is three menstrual cycles (or three months); for a widow it is four months and ten days; if pregnant, until delivery. The husband must provide maintenance during idda. Idda allows for possible reconciliation and prevents confusion of lineage.
How many times is Idda (Waiting Period) mentioned in the Quran?
The root of the word Idda (Waiting Period) appears 7 times in the Quran, underscoring its central importance in Islamic theology and practice.
What is the Arabic root of Idda (Waiting Period)?
The Arabic root letters of Idda (Waiting Period) are ع د د.
Related Words
حَلَال
Halal (Permissible)
Halal refers to anything permissible or lawful under Islamic law. It applies to food, drink, financial transactions, and behavior. The Quran repeatedly instructs believers to eat from what is halal and good (tayyib). Halal is the opposite of haram (forbidden) and forms one of the five rulings (ahkam) of Islamic jurisprudence.
حَرَام
Haram (Forbidden)
Haram refers to anything strictly forbidden by Islamic law. Committing a haram act is a sin deserving punishment in both this world and the hereafter. Major categories include pork, alcohol, usury (riba), adultery, and murder. Islamic jurisprudence identifies five rulings (ahkam); haram is the most severe prohibition.
فَرْض
Fard (Obligatory)
Fard is an obligatory religious duty in Islam whose performance is rewarded and whose neglect is sinful. The five pillars of Islam — shahada, salah, zakat, sawm, and hajj — are all fard. Fard is divided into fard ayn (individual obligation) and fard kifaya (collective obligation fulfilled when enough people perform it).
وَاجِب
Wajib (Necessary)
Wajib in Hanafi jurisprudence is an obligatory act slightly below fard in rank, established by probable (zanni) rather than definitive (qati) evidence. Neglecting it is sinful but less severe than neglecting fard. Examples include witr prayer, udhiyya (sacrifice), and sadaqat al-fitr. In Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools, wajib and fard are synonymous.