Running Away with Another’s Wife, and Nikah after the Husband’s Talaq Once the ‘Idda Ends

Question

(1) Zayd fell in love with someone’s wife, ran away with her and used her like his own wife. That woman’s husband, seeing this misconduct, gave her three talaqs. Meanwhile, that woman passed three menstrual periods (hayd) at Zayd’s house. After the ‘idda was over, Zayd married her. Now the question is: is observing the ‘idda in this way valid in the Shari‘a or not? Please write a detailed answer supported by proofs. (2) Without repentance, is the nikah of these two valid or not?

Answer

(1) Running away with someone’s wife is a major sin (kabira) and gravely haram. When the husband gave talaq and after that three menstrual periods passed — wherever they may have passed — the ‘idda was completed, and then permission for nikah with another person was obtained; so much so that even if the woman does not know of the talaq, still, upon completion of the period, it…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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