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Chapter 65

Divorceal-Ṭalāq ( الطلاق )

12 verses • revealed at Medinan

»The surah that issues the lawful procedures by which one may Divorce and that calls for fair parting between believers if marriage is to end, in accordance with what is right and within God’s prescribed limits, while promising ease and deliverance for the truly God-fearing who undergo this trauma. It takes its name from verse 1 ff. concerning “divorce” (ṭalāq). The surah strongly urges people to observe God’s regulations and guidance. To reinforce this they are reminded of the fate of earlier disobedient peoples and the rewards of the obedient. God’s power and knowledge are emphasized at the end (verse 12).«

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

Ali Unal: IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE ALL-MERCIFUL, THE ALL-COMPASSIONATE

1
يا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِذا طَلَّقتُمُ النِّساءَ فَطَلِّقوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحصُوا العِدَّةَ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ رَبَّكُم ۖ لا تُخرِجوهُنَّ مِن بُيوتِهِنَّ وَلا يَخرُجنَ إِلّا أَن يَأتينَ بِفاحِشَةٍ مُبَيِّنَةٍ ۚ وَتِلكَ حُدودُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدودَ اللَّهِ فَقَد ظَلَمَ نَفسَهُ ۚ لا تَدري لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ يُحدِثُ بَعدَ ذٰلِكَ أَمرًا

Ali Unal

This sūrah of 12 verses was revealed in Madīnah. It takes its name from its subject matter as well as from the first verse, where the verb TalLaQa (“to divorce”) occurs. It contains rules additional to those mentioned in Sūrat al-Baqarah concerning divorce, the waiting period, alimony, and habitation.
O (most illustrious) Prophet!1 When you (Muslims) intend to divorce women, divorce them considering their waiting-period (as appointed in Law), and reckon the period (with due care), keeping from disobedience to God, your Lord, in reverence for Him and piety. (While the divorce is taking effect, during their waiting-period) do not drive them out from their houses (where they have lived with their husbands), nor shall they themselves leave, except in case they have committed an open indecency.2 These are the bounds set by God. Whoever exceeds the bounds set by God has surely wronged his own self. You do not know: it may be that afterward God will enable some new situation (to come about between the concerned parties).3
  • While all the other Prophets are mentioned in the Qur’ān with their names, the Qur’ān usually addresses God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, by his mission. This is done in order to refer to the fact that his mission has the greatest importance and that his position is unequaled among the Prophets. According to a rule of Arabic grammar, mentioning something (a position, reputation, or an attribute) without specifying to whom it belongs, means that he who possesses this possesses it in the greatest degree. Therefore, this implies that God’s Messenger (the Prophet Muhammad), upon him be peace and blessings, is the greatest representative of the office of Prophethood.
  • Islam orders that if a man wishes to divorce his wife, he should do so during the time when she is not in the course of a monthly period and he has had no intercourse with her. The wife is then to wait for three monthly courses, during which the husband is obliged to provide for her and cannot force her to leave the home. They can turn to each other during this period. If they do so, they do not have to renew the marriage contract. If they turn to each other after the end of this period, they have to renew it. This divorce can also occur for a second time; but if it is repeated for a third time, they can no longer turn to each other, unless the woman first marries another man and divorces him or is divorced by him. For other ordinances concerning divorce, see sūrah 2: 228–232, 234, notes 152–154; sūrah 33: 49, note 23.
  • That is, there may be reconciliation between the divorced spouses and they may reassume their marital relations before the final divorce occurs. This statement is a warning to observe the bounds set by God. If we observe them strictly, God may bring about a new thing that will please us. So we must submit to God and carry out His orders without transgressing the limits set by Him.