Divorced Women Shall Wait Three Periods — The Waiting Period and Its Wisdom
fiqh
Level: intermediate
family
fqh-052
وَٱلۡمُطَلَّقَٰتُ يَتَرَبَّصۡنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ ثَلَٰثَةَ قُرُوٓءٍ
— البقرة 228
Verse: "Divorced women shall wait by themselves for three periods (quru')." (2:228) — "Quru'" disputed: most say three complete menstrual periods. Wisdoms of the waiting period: (1) Confirming absence of pregnancy. (2) Allowing reconciliation. (3) Affirming the gravity of the marriage contract.
Source: Al-Qurtubi (3/131); Ibn Qudama (7/436)
Question: What is the ruling on a woman concealing pregnancy or menstruation during the waiting period?
Answer: Forbidden — "It is not lawful for them to conceal what Allah has created in their wombs." Concealment is a betrayal of rights and exposes lineage to confusion.