back his wife (Bu. 68:1). Thus divorce is only permitted in the state of ṭuhr (when the woman is clear from the menstrual discharge), there being a further condition that the husband and the wife should not have copulated during that ṭuhr. Evidently this is meant as a sort of check upon the freedom of divorce.

The ‘iddah or waiting period

The final breaking off of marital relations is discouraged in many other ways and every chance is afforded to the parties to maintain the conjugal tie, even after differences have arisen leading to divorce. Every divorce must be followed by a period of waiting called the ‘iddah: “O Prophet! when you divorce women, divorce them for their ‘iddah (prescribed or waiting time)” (65:1). The ‘iddah is about three months: “And the divorced women should keep themselves in waiting for three courses (qurū’)” (2:228). A qar’(pl. qurū’) is the entering from the state of ṭuhr (cleanness) into the state of menstruation. In normal cases it is about four weeks, but there are variations in the case of different women. In the case of women who do not menstruate as well as those whose courses have stopped, the ‘iddah is three months (65:4), and in the case of pregnant women, the waiting period is till delivery (ibid.). The ‘iddah among other purposes serves the purpose of affording the parties a chance of reconciliation. Though they are divorced, yet they still live in the same house, the husband being plainly told not to expel the wife from the house in which she has been living unless she is guilty of misconduct, and a similar advice is given to the wife not to leave the house (65:1). This injunction clearly aims at restoring amicable relations between the parties. If there is any love in the union, its pangs would assert themselves during the period of waiting and bring about a reconciliation.

Divorce is revocable

In fact, reconciliation is recommended in plain words when, speaking of the ‘iddah, the Holy Qur’ān says: “And their husbands have a better right to take them back in the meanwhile if they wish for reconciliation” (2:228). Every divorce is thus an experimental