Question asked, what is iddah and what are the rules of it.

 Question asked, what is iddah and what are the rules of it. 

Alhamdulillah, lets remind ourselves as verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction. 

Iddah means number or term. 

It refers to the days a woman sits when her husband either divorces her or dies. 

If a woman is divorce by her husband, she sits for three months or three menstrual cycle. 

If the husband dies, she sits for the iddah period of four months, ten days. 

Allah says, 

At-Talaq 65:4

And those who no longer expect menstruation among your women - if you doubt, then their period is three months, and [also for] those who have not menstruated. And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth.[1] And whoever fears Allāh - He will make for him of his matter ease.

Allah says, 

Al-Baqarah 2:228

Divorced women remain in waiting [i.e., do not remarry] for three periods,[1] and it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allāh has created in their wombs if they believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And their husbands have more right to take them back in this [period] if they want reconciliation.[2] And due to them [i.e., the wives] is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable.[3] But the men [i.e., husbands] have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority]. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.

The wisdom why women sits for three months before remarrying is because if she is pregnant, it will be known. 

Because if a woman is immediately divorce and marries can give the child to the other husband

And when a woman is divorce and sits for iddah for three months, she is to observe it in the house of her husband and he has to feed her. But what is not allowed is sexual intercourse. 

Immediately he sleeps with her, she is no more divorce but rather his wife. 

It is expected for the woman if she loves the man to dress nicely and do things that will attract him to her and annul the divorce. 

And if he wants to bring her back, he has to get two witnesses from her wali and make them as witness. 

Allah says, 

At-Talaq 65:6

Lodge them[1] [in a section] of where you dwell out of your means and do not harm them in order to oppress them.[2] And if they should be pregnant, then spend on them until they give birth. And if they breastfeed for you, then give them their payment and confer among yourselves in the acceptable way; but if you are in discord, then there may breastfeed for him [i.e., the father] another woman.[3]

So if a woman becomes pregnant for a man during her  divorce, he has to feed her and get milk to breastfeed the child. 

But if he dies, she sits for four months ten days.