You are here: Home » Chapter 65 » Verse 6 » Translation
← Sura 65 →
← Aya 6 →
6
أَسكِنوهُنَّ مِن حَيثُ سَكَنتُم مِن وُجدِكُم وَلا تُضارّوهُنَّ لِتُضَيِّقوا عَلَيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن كُنَّ أُولاتِ حَملٍ فَأَنفِقوا عَلَيهِنَّ حَتّىٰ يَضَعنَ حَملَهُنَّ ۚ فَإِن أَرضَعنَ لَكُم فَآتوهُنَّ أُجورَهُنَّ ۖ وَأتَمِروا بَينَكُم بِمَعروفٍ ۖ وَإِن تَعاسَرتُم فَسَتُرضِعُ لَهُ أُخرىٰ

Yusuf Ali

Let the women live (in ?iddat) in the same style as ye live, according to your means: Annoy them not, so as to restrict them.1 And if they carry (life in their wombs), then2 spend (your substance) on them until they deliver their burden: and if they suckle your (offspring), give them their recompense: and take mutual counsel together, according to what is just and reasonable. And if ye find yourselves3 in difficulties, let another woman suckle (the child) on the (father?s) behalf.4
  • Cf. n. 5507 above. A selfish man, because he has divorced his wife, may, in the probationary period before the divorce becomes absolute, treat her with contumely, and while giving her residence and maintenance, may so restrict it as to make her life miserable. This is forbidden. She must be provided on the same scale as he is, according to his status in life. There is still hope of reconciliation, and if not, yet the parting must be honourable.
  • If there is a pregnancy, a sacred third life comes on the scene, for which there is added responsibility (perhaps added hope for reconciliation) for both parents. In any case no separation is possible until after the child is born. Even after birth, if no reconciliation between parents is possible, yet for the nursing of the child and for its welfare the care of the mother remains the duty of the father, and mere must be mutual counsel between him and the mother in all truth and sincerity.
  • If ye find yourselves in difficulties: e.g., if the mother’s milk fails, or if her health fails, or if any circumstance arises which bars the natural course of the mother nursing her own child. There may be psychological difficulties also.
  • That is, the father must stand all expenses, without cutting down the reasonable allowance to which the mother is en tided.