from the low ground as a euphemism for relieving oneself. This usage then became so common that the act itself was called ghā’it (low ground), owing to their close association.

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A man is prohibited from divorcing his wife during menstruation because doing so prolongs her waiting period and harms her. The remainder of that menstrual period does not count towards the cycles of her waiting period. During that time, she is like a woman left in limbo: neither serving her waiting period, nor living as a wife, nor free of a husband. Allah has forbidden harming a woman by prolonging her waiting period, saying:

“When you divorce women and they approach the end of their waiting period, either retain them honourably or release them honourably. Do not retain them to harm them and thereby transgress. Whoever does so has wronged himself. Do not take Allah’s verses in jest.” [al-Baqara: 231]

In the pre-Islamic era, a man would divorce his wife and leave her until her waiting period was nearly over. He would then take her back, despite having no desire for her, divorce her again, and leave her until her waiting period was nearly over before taking her back once more, all to prolong her waiting period. Allah therefore prohibited this in the verse.

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A man is prohibited from divorcing his wife during a period of purity in which he has had intercourse with her because doing so leaves her uncertain about her waiting period. She would not know whether it should end with childbirth or be reckoned by cycles, since she might have conceived from that intercourse. It was therefore deemed objectionable for him to create such uncertainty about her waiting period. He was instructed to divorce her only when she knows what her waiting period will be, so that she can begin it. Thus, Allah’s statement, mighty and majestic:

“Divorce them for their waiting period.” [al-Talāq: 1]

means: as they are about to begin their waiting period.

Another explanation is that this prohibition ensures that her freedom from pregnancy has been established, so that, should she give birth and he wish to deny paternity, he can be certain in denying that she conceived by him. Similarly, it was deemed objectionable for a man to sell a slave woman with whom he had had intercourse before establishing that she was not pregnant, even if she were of high value and would be placed in custody for this very purpose. This explanation is more convincing, and Allah knows best.

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A man who divorces his wife while she is menstruating and then takes her back is prohibited from divorcing her during the first period of purity because