A number of questions about divorce
Question

                I have three urgent and, I believe,very imporatant questions about Divorce (Talaq). 

1.  Is what is known in the west as SEPARATION permitted in Islam?   A muslim husband and wife with children living in the west are seriously considering divorce.  Somebody suggested trying Separation first.  The husband would move out to a place nearby but since they are still married there would be no problem comming in the house at any time.   He would still continue to support the family in every respect.

2.  For consummated marriage and with first Talaq, when does Eddah end?   Is it the end of the third period (bleeding) or the beginning of the fourth one? 

3.  What is permitted during Eddah that would not constitute end of Talaq?  I know that sexual intercourse is not, but is kissing, touching and hugging ok?
Praise be to Allah.
    With regard to the first question, the answer depends on the 
    circumstances. If what is intended by this action is to reduce the level of 
    tension in the relationship, then they will come back together, or as a 
    trial separation to see what effect that will have on them and their 
    children so that it will help them to take a decision, and they both agree 
    to this temporary separation, then there is nothing wrong with that. 

    If this is a decision that they have both taken, and have 
    agreed to separate from one another without divorcing, then it should be 
    said that if the woman foregoes the rights that she will lose through this 
    separation, and he also foregoes his rights over her, and they think that 
    this is in their best interests and those of their children, and the place 
    where the woman and her children will stay is a safe place where they will 
    not suffer neglect, then that is permissible, subject to these conditions. 
    But if she wants intimacy and he does not want to do that, or there is the 
    fear that she may do something wrong whilst she is still married to him, and 
    the like, then he should divorce her, but still continue to spend on his 
    children. And Allaah knows best. 

    With regard to the second question: the ‘iddah of a divorced 
    woman who has periods, with whom the marriage has been consummated and who 
    is not pregnant, is a matter concerning which classical and contemporary 
    scholars have differed. The view which is regarded as most correct by the 
    majority of contemporary scholars, such as Shaykh Ibn Baaz and Ibn 
    ‘Uthaymeen, and others, is that the ‘iddah ends when three menstrual periods 
    have passed, and as soon as the third period ends, the ‘iddah ends. This is 
    the view of many of the major Sahaabah such as ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab, ‘Ali 
    ibn Abi Taalib and Ibn Mas’ood, and it was narrated by Ibn al-Qayyim from 
    Abu Bakr, Abu Moosa and others (may Allaah be pleased with them all). (See
    Fataawa Islamiyyah, 3/310; Fataawa al-Talaaq by Shaykh 
    Ibn Baaz, 193; Jaami’ Ahkaam al-Nisa’, 4/243).
    With regard to the third question: “The women whose divorce is revocable 
    (i.e., first or second talaaq) may uncover in front of her husband and adorn 
    herself and wear make-up and perfume. She may speak to him and he may speak 
    to her; she may sit with him and do anything with him apart from intercourse 
    and the things that lead to it; that may only happen when he takes her back. 
    (Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, Fataawa Islamiyyah, 3/310) 
If he kisses and embraces 
    his wife with the intention of taking her back, then that taking back is 
    valid, with no difference of opinion among the scholars. But if he does not 
    intend to take her back, then some scholars say that it is permissible on 
    the grounds that she is his wife, but that it does not mean that he has 
    taken her back; other scholars say that embracing and kissing etc. are 
    precursors to intercourse, so the one who does them is sinning if he does 
    not intend to take her back. To be on the safe side, he should not do that 
    until after he has clearly stated that he is taking her back, such as saying 
    to his wife, “I am taking you back,” and two Muslim witnesses bear witness 
    to his taking her back by him saying in front of them, “I ask you to bear 
    witness that I am taking my wife So and so back,” and the like. Then he may 
    do whatever he likes of permissible things. And Allaah knows best. 

    (See Subul al-Salaam, 2/267).