Download - University of Salford Institutional Repository

is to give the opportunity to notice any signs of pregnancy if there
is any,,, because in Islam. "the child follows,, the bed" in the sense
that the child, takes paternity from the man, whoever he might be,
I
who was married to its mother at the time of its birth. So, idda
preserves the child's claim to paternity from being confused as,
the Qurlan makes it clear: ý ., -Iý-
"Divorced women shall wait. concerning themselves
for three monthly period. Nor is it lawful for them
to hide what God hath created in their wombs, if
they have faith in God and the Last Day and their
husbands have the better right to take them back
in that period, if they-wish reconciliation. "
In the case of the wife who is pregnant, she must not conceal
her condition but she must wait until she gives birthto a child who
may change their feelings about the divorce. As the Qurlan says;
11 For those who carry life (within their wombs), -
their period is until they deliver their burdens:
And for, those who fear God, He will make their path, easy. " 2-
c
For a woman of menstruating age. the idda is three menstruations
after divorce. If there is-no menstruation because she is old,
C
or if the courses are in doubt. then iddst will be three calender months.
By that time, the woman, will know if ýthere is a pregnancy or, not.
, However, the divorce of a woman whose husband never consummated his
% marriage has no condition of an interim period. She can be divorced -,
at any time and this divorce will be irrevocable, according to the
Qur I an:
is
"There is no blame on you if ye divorce women before
consummation or the fixation of their dowerg but bestow
on them (a suitable gift), the wealthy according to his
menas and the poor according to his means; a gift of
reasonable amount is due from those who wish to do the
right thing. " 3
*'ý, It could be argued that
-giving the ýright of divorce to the man
undervalue the woman's staus and, to insult her
J. " Q. 2.228
2. " Q. 65.4
3. - Q. 2.236
-1
- The Islamic view
116