go out of it except to attend to her needs during the day, for Allah Most High says: “Those among you who die and leave wives behind—their wives shall wait by themselves for four months and ten days,” to the end of the verse [al-Baqara: 234].

584—As for separation during the husband’s lifetime:

1—If he divorces her before consummating the marriage with her, she owes him no waiting period, for Allah Most High says: “O you who believe, when you marry believing women and then divorce them before touching them, you have no waiting period to count against them” [al-Ahzāb: 49].

2—If he has consummated the marriage with her or has been in valid seclusion with her:

A—If she is pregnant, her waiting period ends upon delivery, whether the period is short or long.

B—If she is not pregnant:

If she menstruates, her waiting period is three complete menstrual periods, for Allah Most High says: “Divorced women shall wait by themselves for three menstrual cycles” [al-Baqara: 228].

If she does not menstruate—such as a minor girl, one1 who has never menstruated, or a woman past menopause—her waiting period is three months, for Allah Most High says: “As for those of your women who have despaired of menstruation, if you are in doubt,