A divorce happens in a family. The nikah ends. Someone asks the question everyone whispers: when can she marry again? The answer is iddat. It is the waiting period the law fixes after a marriage ends. Here is how it works in Pakistan, in plain words.
What is iddat?
Iddat is the waiting time after a marriage ends, by divorce or by the husband's death. During this time the woman cannot marry anyone else. The rule comes from the Quran and from Islamic law, which Pakistan follows in family matters. A nikah done during iddat is not valid.
How many days is iddat after divorce in Pakistan?
The answer depends on the woman. There is no single number for everyone.
- A woman who gets her monthly cycle: three menstrual cycles. In practice that works out to about three months.
- A woman past the age of menstruation, or one who does not get periods for another reason: three months.
- A pregnant woman: until she delivers the child.
The Quran says this clearly. Surah Al Baqarah 2:228 says divorced women must wait three monthly cycles before they can remarry. Surah At Talaq 65:4 says women past the age of menstruation wait three months, and a pregnant woman's waiting period ends with delivery.
Does the 90 day rule change the iddat?
In Pakistan a talaq does not take effect on the day it is spoken. Under section 7 of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961, the husband must send written notice to the Chairman of the Union Council and give a copy to the wife. The talaq becomes effective only after 90 days from the day the notice reaches the Chairman. That window exists so the Arbitration Council can try to bring the couple back together.
So the marriage legally ends after that 90 day period, and the iddat is counted from there. If the wife is pregnant, the talaq is not effective until the 90 days or the pregnancy ends, whichever is later, under section 7(5). The Supreme Court confirmed in 2025 that the 90 day rule applies to every form of talaq.
If you want the full picture of how a divorce moves forward, read how divorce works in Pakistan: talaq, khula, and court. For the step by step route, see the divorce process in Pakistan, explained step by step. And before you start, see filing for divorce in Pakistan: costs, courts, and timeline for where to file and what it costs.
What is the iddat for a widow?
A different rule. Surah Al Baqarah 2:234 says a widow waits four months and ten days. That applies after the husband's death, not after divorce. Many people mix the two rules up, so it is worth keeping them apart.
What changes during iddat?
Two things matter.
First, the woman cannot remarry until the iddat ends. Any nikah done earlier is not valid in the eyes of the law.
Second, the husband must pay maintenance for the whole period. That means food, clothing, a place to live, and medical expenses. The right to maintenance during iddat is settled law, and Family Courts award it regularly. If the husband stops paying, the wife can claim through the Union Council under section 9 of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, or file a suit in the Family Court. After iddat ends, the husband's duty to maintain the former wife ends under Islamic law. Maintenance for the children continues, divorce or no divorce. For the broader rules on what stays legal after a marriage ends, see marriage laws in Pakistan: what's legal, what isn't.
Does khula change the iddat?
No. The same iddat applies when the wife asks for divorce through khula. Three menstrual cycles, or three months for a woman who does not menstruate, and until delivery if she is pregnant. The steps of khula are in how a woman can ask for khula in Pakistan.
What this means for you
Count three menstrual cycles, or three months, for a woman who does not menstruate, and until delivery for a pregnant woman. Do not arrange a new nikah before the iddat ends. And remember the maintenance: it is the husband's duty for the whole period. If the amounts are disputed, the Family Court decides, not the family elders.
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