The Quran

237

Preface

وَإِن طَلَّقتُموهُنَّ مِن قَبلِ أَن تَمَسّوهُنَّ وَقَد فَرَضتُم لَهُنَّ فَريضَةً فَنِصفُ ما فَرَضتُم إِلّا أَن يَعفونَ أَو يَعفُوَ الَّذي بِيَدِهِ عُقدَةُ النِّكاحِ ۚ وَأَن تَعفوا أَقرَبُ لِلتَّقوىٰ ۚ وَلا تَنسَوُا الفَضلَ بَينَكُم ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِما تَعمَلونَ بَصيرٌ

Ali Quli Qarai

And if you divorce them before you touch them, and you have already settled a dowry for them, then [pay them] half of what you have settled, unless they forgo it, or someone in whose hand is the marriage tie forgoes it.¹ And to forgo is nearer to Godwariness; so do not forget graciousness among yourselves. Indeed Allah sees best what you do.

That is, the wife’s guardian or the husband. The bride’s guardian may forgo the half of the dowry which is her right to receive, or the husband may refrain from demanding half of the dowry he has already paid.