When does the `Iddah of a divorced woman start?

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Q 4: A man disagreed with his wife, so he took her and went to her father's home. She stayed at her father's house for six months, during which they never met. Then, people tried to reconcile between them, but her husband did not want to return to her. He met her once at her father's house while she was wearing the Hijab (veil), then he returned to his home. A week later, he sent her the divorce paper. Is the `Iddah (woman's prescribed waiting period after divorce or widowhood) counted starting from the time she received her divorce paper or the time she went to her father's house? Please advise.

A: If the situation is as you have mentioned, the `Iddah of the mentioned woman starts from the day her husband divorced her, neither from the day of their separation, nor from the day she received the divorce paper, if she received it (Part No. 20; Page No. 425) later than the day in which the divorce took place. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.