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Marriage Performed During the Period of 'Iddah

Question

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah 
I am a Pakistani Muslim living in the USA and married a Pakistani Muslim girl living in USA when she was in her period of ‘iddah after she received Khula‘ from her previous husband. She had to go outside of her house during her period of ‘iddah because of the nature of work she had in order to feed her 2 kids. As disputes arose between us, after 10 months of our marriage, I wrote the word Talaq 3 times in the same message and sent that one message to her through my cellphone so that she can marry someone else. During the time period when we were living together, we never consummate our marriage due to the doubt that our marriage may not have been valid due to her being in the period of ‘iddah. I have 3 questions now:

Was our marriage which was performed during her period of ‘iddah valid in the first place?
If our marriage was not valid, then did the Talaq I issued has any value?
Is it possible for us to marry again?

Answer
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
الجواب وباللہ التوفیق
Walaikumassalam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu 1-Based on the correctness of the description in the question and the described situation, the Nikah performed during the period of her ‘Iddah is considered impermissible and vile. Such a Nikah does not get officiated. Firm repentance and astaghfar should be performed on this action. 2- It is obvious that when your Nikah did not officiate, there is no effect of the divorces you issued. 3- If you want to perform Nikah with her now, you can do so. (۱)اما نکاح منکوحۃالغیر ومعتدتہ (الی قولہ ) فلم یقل احدبجوازہ فلم ینعقد اصلا (ہامش ردالمحتار ‘کتاب الطلاق‘ باب العدۃ‘ مطلب فی النکاح الفاسد والباطل ۳/۵۱۶ ط سعیدکراتشی ) لَا يَجُوزُ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ زَوْجَةَ غَيْرِهِ وَكَذَلِكَ الْمُعْتَدَّةُ كَذَا في السِّرَاجِ الْوَهَّاجِ سَوَاءٌ كانت الْعِدَّةُ عن طَلَاقٍ أو وَفَاةٍ أو دُخُولٍ في نِكَاحٍ فَاسِدٍ أو شُبْهَةِ نِكَاحٍ كَذَا في الْبَدَائِعِ (فتاویٰ ہندیۃ:۱/۲۸۰) وَأَمَّا شَرْطُهُ على الْخُصُوصِ فَشَيْئَانِ أَحَدُهُمَا قِيَامُ الْقَيْدِ في الْمَرْأَةِ نِكَاحٍ أو عِدَّةٍ وَالثَّانِي قِيَامٌ حَلَّ مَحِلَّ النِّكَاحِ(فتاویٰ ہندیہ:۱/۳۳۸) طلق المنكوحة فاسدا ثلاثا له تزوجها بلا محلل قال ولم يحك خلافا فهذا أيضا مؤيد لكون الطلاق لا يتحقق في الفاسد ولذا كان غير منقص للعدد بل هو متاركة كما علمت جتى لو طلقها واحدة ثم تزوجها صحيحا عادت إليه بثلاث طلقات (رد المحتار:مطلب فی النکاح الفاسد،۳/۱۳۴)  

Fatawa ID: 136

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