QUESTION

How long is the 'iddah of a woman who has been divorced for the third time? Does the man maintain her financially during this 'iddah and provide her with housing? If she is breastfeeding their children, does the man maintain her financially and provide housing for her the full two years of breastfeeding?

ANSWER by Shaykh Wasee Allaah 'Abbaas, lecturer at the Ka'bah, instructor at Umm Al-Quraa University in Makkah

The 'iddah of a woman who is divorced irrevocably (for the third time) is three menstrual cycles if she is not pregnant. If she is pregnant, then her 'iddah lasts until she delivers the baby, even if it is only a month, or less or more.

The father or the walee is responsible for the child, meaning that he must provide for the child financially even after the mother's 'iddah. The mother gets custody, meaning that she raises the child so long as she does not marry someone else.

The man must financially maintain the child in a fair and honorable way. The woman has a right to request payment from the man for breastfeeding their baby.

The man has no obligation to provide housing for the wife he divorces irrevocably (ie. the third divorce) during her 'iddah even if she is breastfeeding their baby.

SOURCE

This was translated exclusively for www.bakkah.net from a handwritten answer provided by the shaykh, file no. AAWA010, dated 1423/6/24.

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