Question

'Iddat' under Mohammadan law refers to

• A. A gift made on the occasion of marriage
• B. The right of the husband to divorce his wife
• C. Attaining of puberty
• D. None of the above

Hint:

For personal law subjects, create a glossary of key terms (like Iddat, Talaq, Hiba, Mahr) and their precise meanings. This will help you quickly eliminate incorrect options in definition-based questions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
'Iddat' or 'Iddah' is a significant concept in Muslim personal law. It refers to a period of waiting or seclusion that a Muslim woman must observe following the dissolution of her marriage, either due to the death of her husband or through divorce.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The purpose of Iddat is primarily to ascertain whether the woman is pregnant, so as to avoid confusion regarding the paternity of the child. During this period, the woman is not allowed to remarry. The duration of the iddat period varies depending on the circumstances of the dissolution of the marriage.
Let's examine the given options:
- (A) A gift made on the occasion of marriage is known as 'Hiba'.
- (B) The right of the husband to divorce his wife is known as 'Talaq'.
- (C) Attaining of puberty is a stage of life and is relevant for the capacity to marry, but it is not Iddat.
Since none of the options correctly define 'Iddat', the correct choice is (D).

Step 3: Final Answer:
'Iddat' is a period of waiting observed by a woman after the dissolution of her marriage, and none of the given options accurately describe this concept.