Surah 2 Al-Baqarah, Ayat 236-237

لَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ اِنۡ طَلَّقۡتُمُ النِّسَآءَ مَا لَمۡ تَمَسُّوۡهُنَّ اَوۡ تَفۡرِضُوۡا لَهُنَّ فَرِيۡضَةً  ۖۚ وَّمَتِّعُوۡهُنَّ ​ۚ عَلَى الۡمُوۡسِعِ قَدَرُهٗ وَ عَلَى الۡمُقۡتِرِ قَدَرُهٗ ​ۚ مَتَاعًا ۢ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ​​ۚ حَقًّا عَلَى الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ‏  ﴿2:236﴾ وَاِنۡ طَلَّقۡتُمُوۡهُنَّ مِنۡ قَبۡلِ اَنۡ تَمَسُّوۡهُنَّ وَقَدۡ فَرَضۡتُمۡ لَهُنَّ فَرِيۡضَةً فَنِصۡفُ مَا فَرَضۡتُمۡ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ يَّعۡفُوۡنَ اَوۡ يَعۡفُوَا الَّذِىۡ بِيَدِهٖ عُقۡدَةُ النِّكَاحِ ​ؕ وَاَنۡ تَعۡفُوۡٓا اَقۡرَبُ لِلتَّقۡوٰى​ؕ وَ لَا تَنۡسَوُا الۡفَضۡلَ بَيۡنَكُمۡ​ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ بَصِيۡرٌ‏  ﴿2:237﴾

(2:236) There is no blame upon you if you divorce your wives before you have touched them or settled a bridal gift upon them. But even in this case you should make some provision for them:260 the affluent, according to his means; the straitened, according to his means – a provision in fair manner. That is a duty upon the good-doers. (2:237) And if you divorce them before you touch them or settle a bridal gift upon them, then (give them) half of what you have settled unless either the women act leniently and forgo their claim, or he in whose hand is the marriage tie acts leniently (and pays the full amount). If you act leniently, it is closer to God-fearing. And forget not to act gracefully with one another,261 for indeed Allah sees all that you do. 


Notes

260. This sundering of the matrimonial contract after it has been concluded does cause some harm to the woman; God has ordered, therefore, that the person concerned should compensate for the loss according to his capacity. 

261. Magnanimity in dealings is essential if human relationships are to remain sound and pleasant. If everyone were to stick strictly to his legal rights and claims, a pleasant social life would he rendered impossible.

Leave a comment