His saying: "O Prophet, when you divorce women, divorce them for their prescribed waiting period [idda]" addresses the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the community of Muslims. Qatada’s interpretation is: He divorces her at the beginning of her waiting period, being pure and having had no intercourse, once; then he leaves her. If he has a need for her, he calls two witnesses and bears witness to them saying, 'I have taken her back.' And if he has no need for her, he leaves her until her waiting period expires. If they both regret it, he is then a suitor among suitors.

His saying: "And count the waiting period, and fear Allah, your Lord" means: Do not divorce them while they are menstruating, nor while they are pure if you have had intercourse with them, except in purity after they have performed ghusl from menstruation before you have had intercourse with them. "Do not turn them out of their houses, nor should they [themselves] leave." She shall not leave her house until her waiting period has expired. This leaving refers to her not moving from her house, and if she is in need of...