iddat Iddat is the period which it is obligatory for a Mohammedan woman, whose marriage has been dissolved by divorce or death, to remain in seclusion and to abstain from marrying again. This is necessary to ascertain whether she is pregnant so as to avoid confusion as to parentage. When the marriage is dissolved by divorce, the period of iddat is three monthly courses if she is subject to menstruation, otherwise it is three lunar months. If it is found that the woman is pregnant, the period is extended up to delivery of the child. If the marriage is dissolved by death, the period of iddat is four months and ten days. But if she is found to be pregnant, the iddat lasts for four months and ten days or until delivery of the child, whichever period is longer.