Excerpt from: “Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – In the Light of Qur’an and Sunnah” by Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbānī
Is a woman allowed to marry during her ʿiddah? Can someone explicitly propose marriage to her during that period?
A woman is not allowed to marry another man during her ʿiddah (waiting period), nor can a man explicitly propose marriage to her during that time.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا عَرَّضْتُم بِهِ مِنْ خِطْبَةِ النِّسَاءِ أَوْ أَكْنَنتُمْ فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ سِرًّا إِلَّا أَن تَقُولُوا قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا ۚ وَلَا تَعْزِمُوا عُقْدَةَ النِّكَاحِ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ الْكِتَابُ أَجَلَهُ ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُ ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ﴾
“There is no blame upon you for subtly indicating a proposal to [those] women or keeping it within yourselves. Allah knows that you will remember them. But do not make a secret commitment to them except in honorable terms, and do not resolve on the marriage contract until the decree (ʿiddah) has reached its term. And know that Allah knows what is within yourselves, so beware of Him. And know that Allah is All-Forgiving and Most Forbearing.”
—
[al-Baqarah: 235]
① During ʿiddah, marriage is impermissible.
② A man may not make an explicit marriage proposal to a woman in ʿiddah.
③ Indirect hints or suggestions (taʿrīḍ) are permitted — but only in a respectful and lawful manner.
④ If the woman is in ʿiddah of ṭalāq rajʿī (revocable divorce), she is still connected to her former husband during the ʿiddah. Once the ʿiddah ends, she is released from the bond of marriage.
⑤ Even in the case of a ṭalāq mughallaẓah (irrevocable divorce), observing ʿiddah is mandatory, and only after its completion can she marry someone else.
Engaging in marriage during ʿiddah is completely unlawful (ḥarām).
Those who attempt to contract such marriages — whether through ḥalālah arrangements or other illicit means — are in clear violation of the limits set by Allah. Such acts are a mockery of the Qur’an and Sunnah, and must be completely avoided.
❖ Question:
Is a woman allowed to marry during her ʿiddah? Can someone explicitly propose marriage to her during that period?
❖ Answer:
A woman is not allowed to marry another man during her ʿiddah (waiting period), nor can a man explicitly propose marriage to her during that time.
❖ Quranic Evidence:
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا عَرَّضْتُم بِهِ مِنْ خِطْبَةِ النِّسَاءِ أَوْ أَكْنَنتُمْ فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ سِرًّا إِلَّا أَن تَقُولُوا قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا ۚ وَلَا تَعْزِمُوا عُقْدَةَ النِّكَاحِ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ الْكِتَابُ أَجَلَهُ ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُ ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ﴾
“There is no blame upon you for subtly indicating a proposal to [those] women or keeping it within yourselves. Allah knows that you will remember them. But do not make a secret commitment to them except in honorable terms, and do not resolve on the marriage contract until the decree (ʿiddah) has reached its term. And know that Allah knows what is within yourselves, so beware of Him. And know that Allah is All-Forgiving and Most Forbearing.”
—
[al-Baqarah: 235]❖ Key Points Derived:
① During ʿiddah, marriage is impermissible.
② A man may not make an explicit marriage proposal to a woman in ʿiddah.
③ Indirect hints or suggestions (taʿrīḍ) are permitted — but only in a respectful and lawful manner.
④ If the woman is in ʿiddah of ṭalāq rajʿī (revocable divorce), she is still connected to her former husband during the ʿiddah. Once the ʿiddah ends, she is released from the bond of marriage.
⑤ Even in the case of a ṭalāq mughallaẓah (irrevocable divorce), observing ʿiddah is mandatory, and only after its completion can she marry someone else.
❖ Warning Against Violations:
Engaging in marriage during ʿiddah is completely unlawful (ḥarām).
Those who attempt to contract such marriages — whether through ḥalālah arrangements or other illicit means — are in clear violation of the limits set by Allah. Such acts are a mockery of the Qur’an and Sunnah, and must be completely avoided.
