What is the minimum possible duration for a woman's Iddah based on three menstrual cycles (Quru')?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Reconciliation (Return During 'Iddah)
Primary text
The minimum duration for Iddah based on menstrual cycles depends on differing opinions regarding the minimum duration of purity (Tuhur) between cycles and whether Quru' refers to menstruation or periods of purity. If Quru' is menstruation and the minimum purity is thirteen days, the minimum Iddah is twenty-nine days and a moment. This is calculated by divorce at the end of a purity period, followed by one day and night of menstruation, thirteen days of purity, one day and night of menstruation, thirteen days of purity, one day and night of menstruation, and then a moment to establish the cessation of menses. If purity is fifteen days, the minimum Iddah is thirty-three days plus a moment. If Quru' means periods of purity and the minimum purity is thirteen days, the Iddah ends in twenty-eight days and two moments. This is the view of Al-Shafi'i. For a slave woman, these durations are reduced based on the respective calculations.
Supporting text
If a woman claims completion of Iddah in less time than these calculated minimums, her claim is rejected universally, as it is impossible. If she claims completion in less than a month, her word is not accepted without evidence, according to the precedent involving 'Ali ibn Abi Talib affirming Shurayh's ruling requiring evidence for three cycles in one month. If she claims completion in more than a month, her word is accepted without evidence based on the hadith that 'the woman is entrusted with her private part,' as extreme frequency of menses in a month requires verification, but not beyond a month.