She apostatized and married a Christian; now she has returned to Islam and has
left that Christian man – how long is her ‘iddah?
Question

                She apostatized and married a Christian; now she has returned to Islam and has
left him. How long will her ‘iddah be before she can marry someone else?
Praise be to Allah.We
      put this question to Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, may
      Allaah preserve him, who responded by asking:
      
 “Did
      he have intercourse with her?”
      
 (We
      said:), Yes, he had intercourse with her.
      
 His
      response: (Her ‘iddah) is one menstrual cycle – according to the more
      correct view. It was also said that she should wait for three menstrual
      cycles, but the more correct view is that her ‘iddah is one menstrual
      cycle, because her marriage to that Christian was valid at the time when
      she was an apostate. And Allaah knows best.