Question Summary:
Do I have to wait for Iddah to terminate in order to reconcile with my wife?

Question Detail:

If a man issues his wife with 2 talaaqs and then they want to reconcile-should they wait for her iddah to finish?
Also, if one party is doubtful as to whether it was 2 or 3 talaaqs and the other party is certain and has firm conviction that it was 2-what is the ruling?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
1)     In order to reconcile with one’s wife after Talaaq, the nature of the Talaaq has to be taken into consideration. If a revocable Talaaq (Talaaq-e-Raj’ī) was issued, then he may reconcile with his wife during the Iddah without having to conduct a new Nikah. However, if the Iddah expires, then he will have to conduct a new Nikah.[1] If he has issued an irrevocable Talaaq (Talaaq-e-Baa’in), then he cannot reconcile with her. He will have to make a new Nikah at any time, during the ‘Iddah or after the Iddah.
In order to advise whether the Talaaq was revocable or irrevocable, kindly send us the exact words that were uttered when issuing the Talaaq.
 
2)     In order to advise, state who had the doubt, the husband or wife? Why is there a doubt? Explain in detail.
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Nabeel Valli
Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net