The waiting period of a woman divorced with three revocable divorces: is it one menstrual cycle or three menstrual cycles?

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, how long is the waiting period for a woman who has been divorced with three revocable divorces and is now separated from her husband? Is it one menstrual cycle or three menstrual cycles? And is this to ensure the purity of the womb or for the right of the first husband?

Answer:
Allah the Exalted said: This is general for the woman who is separated and others. The woman who is separated observes a waiting period of three menstrual cycles, yes, due to the generality of the verse. Some scholars, such as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, hold that the woman who is separated observes a waiting period of one menstrual cycle, because one menstrual cycle is sufficient to know that the womb is pure. This is not a revocable divorce for which the waiting period is extended to give her husband the opportunity to take her back. However, the correct view, and the view of the majority, is that three menstrual cycles are required due to the generality of the verse, yes.