Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the waiting period (‘iddah) of a divorced woman will be counted by her menstrual cycles, even if it becomes lengthy. Hazrat Hafs says that he mentioned a period of one year or more.

Hazrat Sha'bi and Ibrahim say that she will observe the waiting period ('iddah) according to menstruation.

Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) says that if a woman is divorced, then she experiences one or two menstrual cycles and after that her menstruation stops, she will count three months for menstruation and nine months for pregnancy, then she will become lawful for men.

Hazrat Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) says that if a woman is divorced, then she experiences one or two menstrual cycles and then her menstruation stops, she should wait for one year, and after one year she should wait for three months, then she may marry.

Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Habib (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that Hazrat Zuhri wrote a letter to me stating that a man divorced his wife while she was breastfeeding his child. Then the woman waited for seven or eight months and did not experience menstruation. Someone told the man that if you die, she will be your heir. He said, "Take me to Hazrat Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him)." He was taken to Hazrat Uthman, who said, "Take her to Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him), and let her ask them about this matter." Both of them said, "In our opinion, she will be the heir." He asked, "What is the reason for this?" They replied, "Because she is not among those women who have despaired of menstruation, nor among those who do not menstruate. The reason for her not menstruating is breastfeeding the child." After this, the man took his child from her. After the child was weaned, the woman experienced one menstruation, then in the second month she experienced a second menstruation, and before the woman could experience a third menstruation, the man passed away, so the woman became his heir.

Hazrat Sulayman bin Yasar (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that a man from Syria, who was cross-eyed, gave his wife one or two divorces. While the woman was still in her third menstrual period, the man passed away. This case was presented before Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), who then asked Hazrat Fadala bin Ubaid and other companions (may Allah be pleased with them) about it. But none of them gave an answer. Therefore, a rider was sent to Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) to ask about this matter. He said that she would not be an heir, and if the woman were to die, the husband would also not be an heir. He also said that Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to say the same.

Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that Alqamah gave his wife one or two divorces. Then, in sixteen or seventeen months, the woman experienced one or two menstrual cycles, but the third cycle did not occur before she passed away. Alqamah went to Abdullah and asked him about this matter. Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Allah has withheld her inheritance for you." Then Abdullah declared him to be her heir.

Hazrat Muhammad bin Yahya bin Hibban (may Allah have mercy on him) says that his grandfather, Hazrat Hibban bin Munqidh, had two wives: one from Banu Hashim and the other from the Ansar. He divorced his Ansari wife while she was breastfeeding a child. When she was breastfeeding the child, she would not menstruate for a year. Hazrat Hibban passed away before that year was completed, so Hazrat Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) declared his wife an heir. And he said to the Hashimite wife that this is also the opinion of your cousin, Hazrat Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him).

Hazrat Zuhri (may Allah have mercy on him) says that a woman who menstruates only once in several months will also observe her waiting period (iddah) according to her menstruation, even if the menstruation is prolonged.