This issue is built upon two foundations. The first is that a free woman observes an 'idda of one year if her menstruation ceases and she does not know what caused it to cease. The second is that the 'idda of a slave woman who has reached menopause is two months, so she waits for nine months because the period of pregnancy is equal for the free woman and the slave woman, as it is a factual matter. So, if she despaired of pregnancy, she observes the 'idda of the woman in menopause, which is two months. According to the narration that sets her 'idda at one month and a half, her 'idda would be ten months and a half. And whoever sets it at three months, then her 'idda is one year like the free woman, equally.

1347 - Issue: He said: (And if she knows what caused the menstruation to cease, she remains in 'idda until the menstruation returns, at which point she observes 'idda by it, unless she reaches the age of those in menopause, in which case she observes an 'idda of three months from the time she enters the count of those in menopause).

As for when she knows that the cessation of menstruation is due to a cause, such as illness, postpartum bleeding, or nursing, she waits for the cause to be removed and for the blood to return, even if it takes a long time, unless she reaches the age of menopause, as we have mentioned. [She then observes] the 'idda of those in menopause. Al-Shafi'i narrated in his "Musnad" with his chain of transmission from Habban ibn Munqidh that he divorced his wife with a single pronouncement, and she had a young daughter from him whom she was nursing, so her menstruation was delayed and Habban became ill. It was said to him: "If you die, she will inherit from you." He went to 'Uthman, and with him were 'Ali and Zayd ibn Thabit, and he asked him about that. 'Uthman said to 'Ali and Zayd: "What do you two think?" They said: "We believe that if she dies, he inherits from her, and if he dies, she inherits from him, because she is not among the women of advanced age [who have despaired of menstruation, nor among the virgins who] have not yet reached the age of menstruation." So Habban returned to his family and took the daughter away from her. Her menstruation returned, and she menstruated twice, and Habban died before the third one had passed, so 'Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, made her an heir.

Al-Athram narrated with his chain of transmission from Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Habban that his grandfather had two wives: a Hashimite and an Ansari. He divorced the Ansari while she was nursing, and a year passed for her, then he died and she had not menstruated. The Ansari said: "I have not menstruated." They brought the dispute to 'Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, and he decreed inheritance for her. The Hashimite blamed 'Uthman, and he said: "This is the action of your cousin; he is the one who suggested this to us," meaning 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him.

1348 - Issue: He said: (And if she menstruates once or twice, then her menstruation ceases and she does not know what caused it to cease, her 'idda does not terminate except after a year [from the time] the menstruation ceased).

This is based on what was narrated from 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said regarding a man who divorced his wife and she menstruated once or twice, then her menstruation ceased and she did not know what caused it: "She waits for nine months, and if..."