Iddat for the wife of Murtad
Question
If a man becomes Murtad, does the wife have to serve Iddah?
Answer
In the queried scenario, if the husband became Murtad (Allah forbid!) after consummating the marriage correctly, meaning that Khalwat-e-Saheehah took place (both of them were in seclusion in such a manner that nothing prevented them from having relations), then it will be necessary for the wife to sit in Iddat. However, if the marriage was not consummated as Khalwat-e-Saheeha didn’t take place, (rather the husband became Murtad after the Nikah for example), then in this instance Iddat will not be necessary.[i]
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
[i] ارتدادِ شوہر:اگر معاذ اللہ کسی عورت کا شوہر مرتد ہو کر اسلام سے پھر جائے تو بالاجماع ائمہ اربعہ و باتفاق جمہور فقہاء اس کا نکاح خود فسخ ہو جائے گا، اس میں قضائِ قاضی اور حکمِ حاکم کی بھی کوئی ضرورت نہیں ۔
اگر خلوتِ صحیحہ سے قبل مرتد ہوا ہے تو خاوند پر نصف مہر لازم ہے، اور عورت پر عدت بھی واجب نہیں ہے، اور اگر خلوت صحیحہ کے بعد مرتد ہوا ہے تو شوہر پر پورا مہر لازم ہے، اور عورت پر عدت بھی واجب ہے، نیز اس مرتد شخص پر عدت کا خرچہ بھی لازم ہے، اور عدت گذرنے کے بعد عورت اپنی مرضی سے جہاں چاہے دوسرا نکاح کرکے باعصمت زندگی گذار سکتی ہے۔ (الحیلۃ الناجزۃ قدیم ص ۹۷؍ و ۱۷۲) فتاوي قاسمىه ص ٣٥٤ ج ١٦ ط: مکتبہ اشرفیہ دیوبند
- Answered by
- Mufti Mohsin Khan
- Checked & approved by
- MUFTI MOHAMMED DESAI SAHEB
Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.
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Source: Darul Ifta Ibn Masood — https://fataawa.co.za/iddat-for-the-wife-of-murtad/
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/ibnmasood-18428
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