What is the 'iddah period for a female slave (*ammah*) after divorce?

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The scholars are unanimous that the waiting period for a female slave is two periods (*quru'*). This is based on the Prophet's statement, 'The *quru'* of the female slave is two menstruations,' and the established positions of 'Umar, 'Ali, and Ibn 'Umar, without known opposition among the Companions, making it an established consensus (*ijma'*). This specific ruling qualifies the general verse regarding the waiting period (Quran 2:228). The reason is that since the required number is subject to differentiation, the female slave cannot be equal to the free woman, analogous to prescribed physical punishments (*hudud*). Although analogy would suggest one and a half periods, since menstruation does not terminate partially, it is rounded up to two full menstruations.