What is period of iddat?

Question

What is period of iddat?

Answer 1

Ahmad A's answer is right but a woman can go out  if it is necessary,specially in America where there are working women.

Answer 2

Iddat (also pronounced IDDAH ) is a period of waiting that Islam has imposed upon a woman who has been divorced or whose husband has died, after which a new marriage is permissible.

Origination

Iddat is established from The Holy Quran and the Hadith of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). We cite the relevant verses in this regard: In Surah Baqarah Almighty Allah states:

    "And those women who are divorced, should keep themselves in waiting for three periods."

This verse establishes the iddat for a woman who is divorced, such iddat being a period of three haidh according to the hanafi mazh-hab. In another verse in Surah Baqarah, Allah Ta'ala says:

"And those among you who expire and leave behind wives, they (the wives) shall keep themselves in waiting for four months and ten days."