iddah the waiting period, step by step

Does he have to support me and pay for housing during my iddah?

After a revocable divorce, the schools agree he owes her maintenance and housing during the iddah.1234 If she is pregnant, even after a final divorce, he owes her maintenance and housing until she gives birth, by consensus.56 After a final divorce when she is not pregnant, the schools differ.135

What the four schools say

The schools agree on the revocably divorced woman and on the pregnant one. For a finally divorced woman who is not pregnant they differ: the Ḥanafī school gives her maintenance and housing, the Mālikī and Shāfiʿī schools housing without maintenance, and the Ḥanbalī school, as Ibn Qudāmah states it, neither.

  • Ḥanafī الحنفية

    Maintenance, housing and clothing are owed to a woman divorced revocably and to one divorced finally.1

  • Mālikī المالكية

    A divorced woman, final or revocable, is owed housing.9 The revocably divorced woman’s maintenance does not fall; a woman separated finally, by khulʿ or a final divorce, loses maintenance unless she is pregnant, when she has the maintenance of the pregnancy.2

  • Shāfiʿī الشافعية

    Housing is owed to a divorced woman, even after a final divorce.10 The revocably divorced woman is owed all provision except grooming costs; a finally divorced woman who is not pregnant has no maintenance or clothing, and a pregnant one has both.3

  • Ḥanbalī الحنابلة

    He owes the revocably divorced woman maintenance, clothing and housing as for a wife, and a finally separated woman who is pregnant has maintenance.4 After a final divorce with no pregnancy, she has no housing and no maintenance; if she is pregnant she has both, by consensus.5

What can change this

  • The difference goes back to Fāṭimah bint Qays: divorced finally, she was told, "There is no maintenance due to you from him."7
  • The Qurʾān: "Lodge them [in a section] of where you dwell out of your means and do not harm them in order to oppress them. And if they should be pregnant, then spend on them until they give birth."6
  • A khulʿ can be agreed in return for the iddah maintenance; the Ḥanafī text mentions a woman who took khulʿ on that basis.8 Bring your agreement to your imam.

In the US

  • Support ordered by a US court is a separate, civil matter. For child support, custody and immigration questions, the US practical page has links.

Sources

  1. 1

    Ibn ʿĀbidīn, Radd al-Muḥtār ʿalā al-Durr al-Mukhtār (Ḥanafī), 3:609

    Open: Ibn ʿĀbidīn, Radd al-Muḥtār ʿalā al-Durr al-Mukhtār (Ḥanafī), 3:609 ↗checked Oct 18, 2026
    Read the passage: source 1

    وَ) تَجِبُ (لِمُطَلَّقَةِ الرَّجْعِيِّ وَالْبَائِنِ، وَالْفُرْقَةُ بِلَا مَعْصِيَةٍ كَخِيَارِ عِتْقٍ، وَبُلُوغٍ وَتَفْرِيقٍ بِعَدَمِ كَفَاءَةِ النَّفَقَةِ وَالسُّكْنَى وَالْكُسْوَةِ) إنْ طَالَتْ الْمُدَّةُ

    Maintenance, housing and clothing are owed to a woman divorced revocably and to one divorced finally, and after a separation that was not caused by her wrongdoing.

  2. 2

    al-Dardīr, al-Sharḥ al-Kabīr ʿalā Mukhtaṣar Khalīl, with Ḥāshiyat al-Dasūqī (Mālikī), 2:514–515

    Open: al-Dardīr, al-Sharḥ al-Kabīr ʿalā Mukhtaṣar Khalīl, with Ḥāshiyat al-Dasūqī (Mālikī), 2:514–515 ↗checked Oct 18, 2026
    Read the passage: source 2

    وَكَذَا الرَّجْعِيَّةُ لَا تَسْقُطُ نَفَقَتُهَا مُطْلَقًا … أَوْ بَانَتْ) بِخُلْعٍ أَوْ بَتَاتٍ فَتَسْقُطُ نَفَقَتُهَا … وَلَهَا) أَيْ الْبَائِنِ (نَفَقَةُ الْحَمْلِ

    The revocably divorced woman's maintenance does not fall at all. If she becomes finally separated, by khulʿ or a final divorce, her maintenance falls; but the finally divorced woman who is pregnant has the maintenance of the pregnancy.

  3. 3

    al-Nawawī, Minhāj al-Ṭālibīn (Shāfiʿī), p. 264

    Open: al-Nawawī, Minhāj al-Ṭālibīn (Shāfiʿī), p. 264 ↗checked Oct 18, 2026
    Read the passage: source 3

    ويجب لرجعية المؤن إلا مؤنة تنظف فلو ظنت حاملا فأنفق فبانت حائلا استرجع ما دفع بعد عدتها والحائل البائن بخلع أو ثلاث لا نفقة لها ولا كسوة وتجبان لحامل لها

    The revocably divorced woman is owed all provision except the cost of grooming. A finally divorced woman who is not pregnant, by khulʿ or three, has no maintenance or clothing; both are owed to a pregnant one.

  4. 4

    al-Buhūtī, Kashshāf al-Qināʿ ʿan Matn al-Iqnāʿ (Ḥanbalī), 5:464

    Open: al-Buhūtī, Kashshāf al-Qināʿ ʿan Matn al-Iqnāʿ (Ḥanbalī), 5:464 ↗checked Oct 18, 2026
    Read the passage: source 4

    وَيَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ نَفَقَةُ الْمُطَلَّقَةِ الرَّجْعِيَّةِ] فَصْلٌ (وَ) يَجِبُ (عَلَيْهِ نَفَقَةُ الْمُطَلَّقَةِ الرَّجْعِيَّةِ وَكُسْوَتُهَا وَمَسْكَنُهَا كَالزَّوْجَةِ … أَمَّا الْبَائِنُ بِفَسْخٍ أَوْ طَلَاقٍ، فَإِنْ كَانَتْ حَامِلًا فَلَهَا النَّفَقَةُ

    He owes the revocably divorced woman maintenance, clothing and housing, as for a wife. As for a woman finally separated by annulment or divorce, if she is pregnant she has maintenance.

  5. 5

    Ibn Qudāmah, al-Mughnī (Ḥanbalī), 8:232

    Open: Ibn Qudāmah, al-Mughnī (Ḥanbalī), 8:232 ↗checked Oct 18, 2026
    Read the passage: source 5

    وَإِذَا طَلَّقَ الرَّجُلُ زَوْجَتَهُ طَلَاقًا لَا يَمْلِكُ فِيهِ الرَّجْعَةَ، فَلَا سُكْنَى لَهَا، وَلَا نَفَقَةَ، إلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ حَامِلًا … وَكَانَتْ حَامِلًا فَلَهَا النَّفَقَةُ وَالسُّكْنَى، بِإِجْمَاعِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ

    If a man divorces his wife with a divorce in which he has no rajʿah, she has no housing and no maintenance unless she is pregnant. Whether by three, khulʿ or annulment, if she is pregnant she has maintenance and housing, by the consensus of the scholars.

5 more sources, 6 to 10
  1. 6

    Qurʾān, al-Ṭalāq 65:6

    Open: Qurʾān, al-Ṭalāq 65:6 ↗checked Oct 18, 2026
    Read the passage: source 6

    أَسْكِنُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ سَكَنتُم مِّن وُجْدِكُمْ وَلَا تُضَآرُّوهُنَّ لِتُضَيِّقُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن كُنَّ أُو۟لَـٰتِ حَمْلٍ فَأَنفِقُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ ۚ فَإِنْ أَرْضَعْنَ لَكُمْ فَـَٔاتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ ۖ وَأْتَمِرُوا۟ بَيْنَكُم بِمَعْرُوفٍ ۖ وَإِن تَعَاسَرْتُمْ فَسَتُرْضِعُ لَهُۥٓ أُخْرَىٰ

    Lodge them [in a section] of where you dwell out of your means and do not harm them in order to oppress them. And if they should be pregnant, then spend on them until they give birth. And if they breastfeed for you, then give them their payment and confer among yourselves in the acceptable way; but if you are in discord, then there may breastfeed for him [i.e., the father] another woman.

  2. 7

    Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1480a · No grade shown on sunnah.com (in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)

    Open: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1480a ↗checked Oct 18, 2026
    Read the passage: source 7

    حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، مَوْلَى الأَسْوَدِ بْنِ سُفْيَانَ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ قَيْسٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا عَمْرِو بْنَ حَفْصٍ، طَلَّقَهَا الْبَتَّةَ وَهُوَ غَائِبٌ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهَا وَكِيلُهُ بِشَعِيرٍ فَسَخِطَتْهُ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا لَكِ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ شَىْءٍ ‏.‏ فَجَاءَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَتْ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ لَيْسَ لَكِ عَلَيْهِ نَفَقَةٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَأَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَعْتَدَّ فِي بَيْتِ أُمِّ شَرِيكٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ تِلْكَ امْرَأَةٌ يَغْشَاهَا أَصْحَابِي اعْتَدِّي عِنْدَ ابْنِ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ فَإِنَّهُ رَجُلٌ أَعْمَى تَضَعِينَ ثِيَابَكِ فَإِذَا حَلَلْتِ فَآذِنِينِي ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا حَلَلْتُ ذَكَرْتُ لَهُ أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ وَأَبَا جَهْمٍ خَطَبَانِي ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَمَّا أَبُو جَهْمٍ فَلاَ يَضَعُ عَصَاهُ عَنْ عَاتَقِهِ وَأَمَّا مُعَاوِيَةُ فَصُعْلُوكٌ لاَ مَالَ لَهُ انْكِحِي أُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَكَرِهْتُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ انْكِحِي أُسَامَةَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَنَكَحْتُهُ فَجَعَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْرًا وَاغْتَبَطْتُ بِهِ ‏.‏

    Fatima bint Qais reported that Abu 'Amr b. Hafs divorced her absolutely when he was away from home, and he sent his agent to her with some barley. She was displeased with him and when he said: I swear by Allah that you have no claim on us. she went to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and mentioned that to him. He said: There is no maintenance due to you from him, and he commanded her to spend the 'Idda in the house of Umm Sharik, but then said: That is a woman whom my companions visit. So better spend this period in the house of Ibn Umm Maktum […]

  3. 8

    Ibn ʿĀbidīn, Radd al-Muḥtār ʿalā al-Durr al-Mukhtār (Ḥanafī), 3:535–536

    Open: Ibn ʿĀbidīn, Radd al-Muḥtār ʿalā al-Durr al-Mukhtār (Ḥanafī), 3:535–536 ↗checked Oct 18, 2026
    Read the passage: source 8

    وَلَا تَخْرُجُ مُعْتَدَّةُ رَجْعِيٍّ وَبَائِنٌ) بِأَيِّ فُرْقَةٍ كَانَتْ عَلَى مَا فِي الظَّهِيرِيَّةِ وَلَوْ مُخْتَلِعَةً عَلَى نَفَقَةِ عِدَّتِهَا فِي الْأَصَحِّ اخْتِيَارٌ، أَوْ عَلَى السُّكْنَى فَيَلْزَمُهَا أَنْ تَكْتَرِيَ بَيْتَ الزَّوْجِ مِعْرَاجٌ (لَوْ حُرَّةً) أَوْ أَمَةً مُبَوَّأَةً وَلَوْ مِنْ فَاسِدٍ (مُكَلَّفَةً مِنْ بَيْتِهَا أَصْلًا) لَا لَيْلًا وَلَا نَهَارًا … وَتَعْتَدَّانِ) أَيْ مُعْتَدَّةُ طَلَاقٍ وَمَوْتٍ (فِي بَيْتٍ وَجَبَتْ فِيهِ) وَلَا يَخْرُجَانِ مِنْهُ (إلَّا أَنْ تُخْرَجَ أَوْ يَتَهَدَّمَ الْمَنْزِلُ، أَوْ تَخَافُ) انْهِدَامَهُ، أَوْ (تَلَفَ مَالِهَا، أَوْ لَا تَجِدَ كِرَاءَ الْبَيْتِ) وَنَحْوَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ الضَّرُورَاتِ فَتَخْرُجُ لِأَقْرَبِ مَوْضِعٍ إلَيْهِ

    A woman in the iddah of a revocable or a final divorce does not leave her home at all, by night or by day. Both the divorced woman and the widow keep the iddah in the house where it began and do not leave it, unless she is put out, the house falls or she fears it will, she fears for her property, she cannot find the rent, or similar necessities; then she moves to the nearest place.

  4. 9

    al-Dardīr, al-Sharḥ al-Kabīr ʿalā Mukhtaṣar Khalīl, with Ḥāshiyat al-Dasūqī (Mālikī), 2:483

    Open: al-Dardīr, al-Sharḥ al-Kabīr ʿalā Mukhtaṣar Khalīl, with Ḥāshiyat al-Dasūqī (Mālikī), 2:483 ↗checked Oct 18, 2026
    Read the passage: source 9

    وَلِلْمُعْتَدَّةِ الْمُطَلَّقَةِ) بَائِنًا أَوْ رَجْعِيًّا السُّكْنَى وُجُوبًا عَلَى الزَّوْجِ

    A woman in the iddah of divorce, final or revocable, is owed housing by the husband as an obligation.

  5. 10

    al-Nawawī, Minhāj al-Ṭālibīn (Shāfiʿī), p. 256–257

    Open: al-Nawawī, Minhāj al-Ṭālibīn (Shāfiʿī), p. 256–257 ↗checked Oct 18, 2026
    Read the passage: source 10

    تجب سكنى لمعتدة طلاق ولو بائنا إلا ناشزة ولمعتدة وفاة في الأظهر وفسخ على المذهب وتسكن في مسكن كانت فيه عند الفرقة وليس لزوج وغيره إخراجها ولا لها خروج … قلت: ولها الخروج في عدة وفاة وكذا بائن في النهار لشراء طعام … وتنتقل من المسكن لخوف من هدم أو غرق أو على نفسها أو تأذت بالجيران أو هم بها أذى شديدا

    Housing is owed to a woman in the iddah of divorce, even a final one, unless she was rebellious (nāshiz). She lives in the home she was in at the separation; neither the husband nor anyone else may put her out, and she may not leave. She may go out in the iddah of death, and so may a finally divorced woman by day, to buy food and the like. She moves from the home out of fear of its falling or flooding, or fear for herself, or if she is harmed by the neighbors or they by her, severely.

Pending scholarly review · Every point here is from the sources cited. It has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.

Sources checked (7 Jumādā al-Ūlā 1448)

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