Analysis of Islamic Legal Rulings Relating to Women Activities During Waiting Period (Iddah) of Revocable Divorce (Talaq Raj’ie) According to Muslim Jurists

Abstract

‘Iddah or waiting period is a specific period stipulated for a woman who was divorced or after the death of her husband. It is an aspect that needs to be observed after a divorce occurs, other than maintenance and custody. In reality, many women who are observing the waiting period are involved in a career and social activities which leaves certain implications and creates challenges as to the actual process of waiting period as stipulated by Islam. Hence, this conceptual paper aims to review the sharī‘ah rulings on some common activities that these women who are separated by revocable divorce were involved in, such as in the aspects of career, appearance and celebratory occasions. Qualitative methodology was adopted by collecting and analyzing Muslim jurists' opinions on social activities that the women who are observing waiting period of revocable divorce are involved in. This study found that the opinions of Muslim jurists and their discourse on legal sources on the basis of legal objectives (Maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah) can determine the status of involvement in social activities among women who were revocably divorced and observing the waiting period.