I have been waiting for the moderator to approve my posts since I tried to edit, but I will just delete and repost. I will read the "pie" later, do not have time now.
Hi sorry if this has been addressed already but I just had a quick glimpse of this thread and wanted to point out some things in the verses you mentioned. I do not want to get into this debate because it becomes a vicious cycle. Just adding some food for thought.
Sahih International: Divorced women remain in waiting for three periods (2:228)
Let's look at a few verses that mentions marriage, I am using Sahih International translation.
And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. (2:221)
O You who have believed, when you marry believing women and then divorce them before you have touched them, then there is not for you any waiting period to count concerning them. So provide for them and give them a gracious release. (33:49)
And test the orphans [in their abilities] until they reach marriageable age. Then if you perceive in them sound judgement, release their property to them. (4:6)
And whoever among you cannot [find] the means to marry free, believing women, then [he may marry] from those whom your right hands possess of believing slave girls. And Allah is most knowing about your faith. You [believers] are of one another. So marry them with the permission of their people and give them their due compensation according to what is acceptable. (4:25)
I am no Arabic expert but from the understanding of most, when verses speaks about marriage, it is referring to women. There is a distinction between women and girl here. Also it mentions a 'marriageable age' though it doesn't state what.
Looking at the other verse:
Sahih International: And those who no longer expect menstruation among your women - if you doubt, then their period is three months, and [also for] those who have not menstruated. And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth. And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him of his matter ease. (65:4}
Here it refers to women who have gone through menopause, those who have not menstruated, it does not say those who are too young to menstruate.
Pickthall: And for such of your women as despair of menstruation, if ye doubt, their period (of waiting) shall be three months, along with those who have it not.
Yusuf Ali: Such of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the prescribed period, if ye have any doubts, is three months, and for those who have no courses (it is the same)
Shakir: And (as for) those of your women who have despaired of menstruation, if you have a doubt, their prescribed time shall be three months, and of those too who have not had their courses;
From a semantic point of view the pronoun 'those' are referring back to the women.
Some women do not experience menstruation every month, some are irregular. Missed period is a common thing resulting from a number of factors, health, diet, stress etc. But another explanation could be that women who were expecting would wait 3 periods before confirmation of their pregnancy. How can you know if someone was pregnant if they didn't have pregnancy tests back then? or had a clear bump or showed any symptoms? That's why the waiting period is 3 months for divorced women to see if they were expecting and the husband can take her back during this time.
Also women who are breastfeeding usually do not experience menstrual cycles during this time and the prescribe period of breastfeeding is up to 2 years in the Quran.