The waiting period for a divorced woman is termed 'iddah. It is a period of time during which a divorced woman must observe certain restrictions before she can remarry. The purpose of the 'iddah is to ensure that the woman is not pregnant from her previous husband and to give her time to adjust to her new status. The length of the 'iddah varies depending on the circumstances of the divorce, but it is usually three menstrual cycles. During this period, the woman must abstain from sexual intercourse and cannot marry anyone else. The 'iddah is an important part of Islamic law that protects the rights and dignity of women.