وَلَمَّا بَرَزُوۡا لِجَـالُوۡتَ وَجُنُوۡدِهٖ قَالُوۡا رَبَّنَآ اَفۡرِغۡ عَلَيۡنَا صَبۡرًا وَّثَبِّتۡ اَقۡدَامَنَا وَانۡصُرۡنَا عَلَى الۡقَوۡمِ الۡکٰفِرِيۡنَؕ‏ ﴿2:250﴾فَهَزَمُوۡهُمۡ بِاِذۡنِ اللّٰهِ ۙ وَقَتَلَ دَاوٗدُ جَالُوۡتَ وَاٰتٰٮهُ اللّٰهُ الۡمُلۡكَ وَالۡحِکۡمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهٗ مِمَّا يَشَآءُ ​ؕ وَلَوۡلَا دَفۡعُ اللّٰهِ النَّاسَ بَعۡضَهُمۡ بِبَعۡضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ الۡاَرۡضُ وَلٰـکِنَّ اللّٰهَ ذُوۡ فَضۡلٍ عَلَى الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَ‏ ﴿2:251﴾

(2:250) And when they went forth against Goliath (Jalut) and his forces, they prayed: “Our Lord! Shower us with patience, and set our feet firm, and grant us victory over this unbelieving people.” (2:251) Thereupon by Allah’s leave they put the unbelievers to flight, and David killed Goliath,²⁷³ and Allah granted him dominion and wisdom, and imparted to him the knowledge of whatever He willed. And were it not that Allah repelled some people with another, the earth would surely be overlaid with mischief.²⁷⁴ But Allah is Bounteous to the people of the world (and thus extirpates mischief). 

Notes

273. David was then in the early years of his youth. By chance he joined the army of Saul just when the mighty champion of the Philistine army had challenged the Israelite army to combat. None of the Israelites had the courage to take up the challenge. On seeing this, David took on Goliath in a duel and slew him. From then on, David could do no wrong in the eyes of the Israelites. Saul gave him the hand of his daughter in marriage and ultimately he became the ruler of the Israelites. (For details see 1 Samuel, chapters 17 and I8.) 

274. This enunciates the principle according to which God treats the nations as a part of the Divine system governing the world. He allows various nations to attain power and strength within certain limits. But when any nation begins to commit wrongs and exceed reasonable limits. God brings forth another nation as a counterweight, Were the dominion of one nation or party to endure for ever, and were its capacity to perpetrate wrongs granted in perpetuity, God’s earth would become full of corruption and wickedness.

فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوۡتُ بِالۡجُـنُوۡدِۙ قَالَ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مُبۡتَلِيۡکُمۡ بِنَهَرٍ​ۚ فَمَنۡ شَرِبَ مِنۡهُ فَلَيۡسَ مِنِّىۡ​ۚ وَمَنۡ لَّمۡ يَطۡعَمۡهُ فَاِنَّهٗ مِنِّىۡٓ اِلَّا مَنِ اغۡتَرَفَ غُرۡفَةً ۢ بِيَدِهٖ​​ۚ فَشَرِبُوۡا مِنۡهُ اِلَّا قَلِيۡلًا مِّنۡهُمۡ​ؕ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَهٗ هُوَ وَالَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مَعَهٗ ۙ قَالُوۡا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا الۡيَوۡمَ بِجَالُوۡتَ وَجُنُوۡدِهٖ​ؕ قَالَ الَّذِيۡنَ يَظُنُّوۡنَ اَنَّهُمۡ مُّلٰقُوا اللّٰهِۙ کَمۡ مِّنۡ فِئَةٍ قَلِيۡلَةٍ غَلَبَتۡ فِئَةً کَثِيۡرَةً ۢ بِاِذۡنِ اللّٰهِ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ مَعَ الصّٰبِرِيۡنَ‏ ﴿2:249﴾

(2:249) When Saul (Talut) set out with his forces he said: “Allah will try you with a river, and whoever drinks of it does not belong to me; he who refrains from tasting it – unless it be just a palmful – he indeed belongs to me.” Then all, except a few of them, drank their fill at the river.²⁷¹

But as soon as Saul (Talut) and the believers with him went forth across the river, they said: “Today we have no strength to face Goliath (Jalut) and his forces.”²⁷² But those who believed that they were bound to meet their Lord said: “How often has a small party prevailed against a large party by the leave of Allah.” Allah is with those who remain steadfast. 

Notes

271. This may refer either to the river Jordan or to some other river or stream in that region. Saul wanted to take the Israelite army across the river. He was aware, however, that there was little moral discipline and restraint left in them. Hence he hit upon this device to distinguish the worthy from the worthyless. Those who could not endure thirst even for a short while, would not be expected to remain steadfast in their confrontation with an enemy at whose hands they had already taken a beating. 

272. These were presumable the people who had shown their impatience on the bank of the river. (See the preceding note – Ed.)

وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ نَبِيُّهُمۡ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ قَدۡ بَعَثَ لَـکُمۡ طَالُوۡتَ مَلِكًا ​ؕ قَالُوۡٓا اَنّٰى يَكُوۡنُ لَهُ الۡمُلۡكُ عَلَيۡنَا وَنَحۡنُ اَحَقُّ بِالۡمُلۡكِ مِنۡهُ وَلَمۡ يُؤۡتَ سَعَةً مِّنَ الۡمَالِ​ؕ قَالَ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ اصۡطَفٰٮهُ عَلَيۡکُمۡ وَزَادَهٗ بَسۡطَةً فِى الۡعِلۡمِ وَ الۡجِسۡمِ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ يُؤۡتِىۡ مُلۡکَهٗ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيۡمٌ‏ ﴿2:247﴾ وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ نَبِيُّهُمۡ اِنَّ اٰيَةَ مُلۡکِهٖۤ اَنۡ يَّاۡتِيَکُمُ التَّابُوۡتُ فِيۡهِ سَکِيۡنَةٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ وَبَقِيَّةٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ اٰلُ مُوۡسٰى وَاٰلُ هٰرُوۡنَ تَحۡمِلُهُ الۡمَلٰٓـئِكَةُ​ ؕ اِنَّ فِىۡ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيَةً لَّـکُمۡ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ مُّؤۡمِنِيۡنَ‏ ﴿2:248﴾

(2:247) And their Prophet said to them: “Indeed Allah has sent forth Saul (Talut) as your king.”²⁶⁹ They said: “By what right shall he rule over us when we are more worthy than he to dominion, for he is not very wealthy?” He said: “Allah has chosen him over you and has endowed him abundantly with both intellectual and physical capacities. Allah indeed has the power to bestow dominion upon whomsoever He wills. Allah is All-Resourceful, All- Knowing.” (2:248) And their Prophet said to them: “The Sign of his dominion is that in his reign the Ark, wherein is inner peace for you, will be brought back to you, and the sacred relics left behind by the house of Moses and the house of Aaron borne by angels.²⁷⁰ Truly in that is a Sign for you, if indeed you are people of faith.” 

Notes

269. In the Bible he is called Saul. He was a thirty-year-old Benjaminite youth. ‘There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; from his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people’ (1 Samuel 9: 2). He went out in search of the lost asses of his father. During this search, he passed through the house of Samuel and God informed Samuel that this was the person who had been chosen to govern the people of Israel. Samuel brought Saul to his house, took a vial of oil, poured it on his head,. kissed him and said: ‘Has not the Lord anointed you to be the prince over His people of Israel? ‘ (1 Samuel 10: 1). Samuel later called the people of Israel together and proclaimed Saul to be their king (1 Samuel 10: 17). 

This was the second Israelite to be anointed by God’s command to a position of leadership. Earlier, Aaron had been anointed as the chief priest. The third case of anointment was that of David, and the fourth that of Jesus. There is no clear statement in the Qur’an regarding the designation of Talut (the Saul of the Bible) to prophethood. The mere fact of his being appointed a ruler does not necessarily warrant considering him a Prophet as well. 

270. The Biblical version of this incident is different from the Qur’anic one. The former sheds light, however, on certain details of the incident. It shows that during a military engagement the pagan Philistines had captured the ‘Ark of the covenant’. Terrified of the scourge and pestilence which spread wherever they carried the Ark, these pagans placed it on a cart driven by milk cows, and sent it off. (1 Samuel 5-6 – Ed.) Perhaps the Qur’an alludes to this when it mentions angels, since the cart was driverless and it was the angels who kept it in their custody and brought it to the Israelites. The Qur’anic statement, that in the Ark ‘lies inward peace for you’, can be understood in the light of the Biblical statements that the Israelites regarded the Ark as highly auspicious, and as an emblem of their triumph and victory. When they were deprived of it, they began to feel that they had been deprived of the mercy of God. The return of the Ark, therefore, had a highly salutary effect on them as it strengthened their sagging morale and raised their spirits. 

The Qur’anic mention of ‘the sacred relics left behind by the house of Aaron’ seems to allude to the Tablets of Law bequeathed to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Ark is also said to have contained the original copy of the Torah, which Moses himself had had transcribed and which he had himself handed over to the Levites. The Ark is also supposed to have contained a golden urn holding the manna (Hebrews 9: 2 ff – Ed.), in order that the coming generations might recall God’s benevolence to their forefathers during their wandering in the desert. The Ark also probably contained the rod of Moses which was one of the great miracles of God. (Hebrews 9: 5 mentions the rod of Aaron – Ed.)

مَنۡ ذَا الَّذِىۡ يُقۡرِضُ اللّٰهَ قَرۡضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضٰعِفَهٗ لَهٗۤ اَضۡعَافًا کَثِيۡرَةً  ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ يَقۡبِضُ وَيَبۡصُۜطُ وَ اِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ‏ ﴿2:245﴾ اَلَمۡ تَرَ اِلَى الۡمَلَاِ مِنۡۢ بَنِىۡٓ اِسۡرَآءِيۡلَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مُوۡسٰى​ۘ اِذۡ قَالُوۡا لِنَبِىٍّ لَّهُمُ ابۡعَثۡ لَنَا مَلِکًا نُّقَاتِلۡ فِىۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ​ؕ قَالَ هَلۡ عَسَيۡتُمۡ اِنۡ کُتِبَ عَلَيۡکُمُ الۡقِتَالُ اَلَّا تُقَاتِلُوۡا ؕ قَالُوۡا وَمَا لَنَآ اَلَّا نُقَاتِلَ فِىۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ وَقَدۡ اُخۡرِجۡنَا مِنۡ دِيَارِنَا وَاَبۡنَآئِنَا ​ؕ فَلَمَّا کُتِبَ عَلَيۡهِمُ الۡقِتَالُ تَوَلَّوۡا اِلَّا قَلِيۡلًا مِّنۡهُمۡ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ عَلِيۡمٌۢ بِالظّٰلِمِيۡنَ‏ ﴿2:246﴾

(2:245) Who of you will lend Allah a goodly loan²⁶⁷ which He will return after multiplying it for him manifold? For Allah has the power both to decrease and increase, and to Him will you be returned. (2:246) (O Messenger), have you thought of what happened with the elders of the Children of Israel after Moses? They asked one of their Prophets: “Set up for us a king so that we may fight in the way of Allah.”²⁶⁸ He said: “Would you possibly refrain from fighting if fighting is ordained for you?” They said: “And why would we not fight in the way of Allah when we have been torn from our homes and our children?” But when fighting was ordained for them they turned back, except a few of them. Allah is well aware of the wrong-doers.

Notes

267. ‘Goodly loan’ signifies whatever one gives to another person selflessly, and from absolutely pure motives. God describes whatever man spends in this manner as a loan made to none other than Him, and He undertakes to repay that loan and to repay it several-fold. The stipulation, however. is that the loan should be a ‘goodly’ one; that is, it should not he tainted with selfish designs and should be given for the sake of God, to be spent for purposes pleasing to Him 

They said: ‘And why would we not fight in the way of Allah when we have been torn from our homes and our children?’ But when fighting was ordained for them they turned back, except a few of them. Allah is well aware of the wrong-doers.

268. This took place about a thousand years before Christ. At that time the Israelites were persecuted by the Amalekites who had deprived them of the greater part of Palestine. The Prophet Samuel, who was then ruling over the Israelites, was old. The elders of Israel, therefore, felt the need to appoint as their head someone else under whose leadership they could wage wars. By that time, however, the Israelites had become so deeply infected with Ignorance, and the customs and practices of non-Muslim nations had made such inroads into their lives that the distinction between a religious state committed to serving God and secular monarchy was lost on them. They consequently asked God to appoint a king rather than a religious ruler (khalifah) over them. The information contained in the Bible is as follows: 

Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. . . . Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, ‘Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations.’ But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to govern us’. And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Hearken to the voice of the people in what they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds which they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you . . . ‘ So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking a king for him. He said, ‘These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you; he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots. And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plough his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make the implements of war and the equipments of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take you men-servants and maid-servants, and the best of your cattle and asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And on that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.’ But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said. ‘No! But we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.’ And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Hearken to their voice, and make them a king.’ Samuel then said to the men of Israel, ‘Go every man to his city.’ (1 Samuel 7: 15; 8: 4-22.) 

And Samuel said to the people ? ‘And when you saw that Nahash the king of Ammonites came against you, You said to me, No, but a king shall reign over us, when the Lord your God was your king. And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the Lord has set a king over you. If you will fear the Lord and serve him and hearken to his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well; but if you will not hearken to the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king. Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king.’ So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. And all the people said to Samuel, ‘Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for a king.’ And Samuel said to the people, ‘Fear not; you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside front following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart, and do not turn aside after vain things which cannot profit or save, for they are vain. For the Lord will not cast away his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and right way?’ (1 Samuel 12: 6-23). 

These statements from Samuel make it clear that the demand to appoint a king was disagreeable to God and to His Prophet. It might be asked, however, why the Qur’an does not contain any denunciation of this demand of the elders of Israel. The reason is that to the purpose for which this incident has been cited the appropriateness and otherwise of the demand is irrelevant. The purpose here is to show the extent to which cowardice and self-indulgence had become part of Israelite life, and to show how the lack of moral restraint had come to characterize their conduct. It is these which ultimately led to their decline. The aim of the Qur’anic narrative is to enable Muslims to derive a lesson from this and to ensure that these weaknesses do not creep into their own lives.

اَلَمۡ تَرَ اِلَى الَّذِيۡنَ خَرَجُوۡا مِنۡ دِيَارِهِمۡ وَهُمۡ اُلُوۡفٌ حَذَرَ الۡمَوۡتِ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ اللّٰهُ مُوۡتُوۡا ثُمَّ اَحۡيَاھُمۡ​ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَذُوۡ فَضۡلٍ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَلٰـكِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَشۡکُرُوۡنَ‏ ﴿2:243﴾ وَقَاتِلُوۡا فِىۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ وَاعۡلَمُوۡٓا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ سَمِيۡعٌ عَلِيۡمٌ‏  ﴿2:244﴾

(2:243) (O Messenger), have you thought of those who went forth from their homes for fear of death even though they were in their thousands?²⁶⁵ Allah said to them: “Die!” Then He restored them to life.²⁶⁶ Indeed Allah is Bounteous to mankind; but most people do not give thanks in return. (2:244) So fight in the Way of Allah and know well that Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. 

Notes

265. Here begins a fresh discourse, in which Muslims are urged to struggle and make financial sacrifices for God’s cause. Moreover, they have been warned to avoid those forms of corruption which eventually led the Children of Israel into decline and degeneration. In order to appreciate this discourse it should be borne in mind that it was revealed when the Muslims had been driven out of Makka and had lived in Madina for year and a half. Exasperated by the wrongs to which the unbelievers subjected them, the Muslims had again and again asked the Prophet to permit them to fight. But when they were at long last asked to fight, some of them showed a degree of reluctance and disinclination see (verse 216 )above. Their attention is now drawn, therefore, to two incidents in the history of the Israelites from which the may learn their lesson. 

266. This refers to the exodus of the Israelites. Surah 5 see( verse 20 ff) ) gives some details of this incident. The Israelites had left Egypt in large numbers and were wandering in the desert, eager to find a home. But when at God’s command Moses ordered them to drive the Canaanites out of Palestine and conquer that land, they showed cowardice and refused to proceed. Eventually God let them wander about for forty years till one full generation of Israelites had died and been replaced by a new one reared in the tough conditions of desert life. It was only, then that God enabled the Israelites to overcome the Canaanites. Their former condition is described as death, whereas the later development is seen as their restoration to life.

وَالَّذِيۡنَ يُتَوَفَّوۡنَ مِنۡکُمۡ وَيَذَرُوۡنَ اَزۡوَاجًا  ۖۚ وَّصِيَّةً لِّاَزۡوَاجِهِمۡ مَّتَاعًا اِلَى الۡحَـوۡلِ غَيۡرَ اِخۡرَاجٍ​​ ۚ فَاِنۡ خَرَجۡنَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡکُمۡ فِىۡ مَا فَعَلۡنَ فِىۡٓ اَنۡفُسِهِنَّ مِنۡ مَّعۡرُوۡفٍؕ وَاللّٰهُ عَزِيۡزٌ حَکِيۡمٌ‏ ﴿2:240﴾وَلِلۡمُطَلَّقٰتِ مَتَاعٌ ۢ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ ​ؕ حَقًّا عَلَى الۡمُتَّقِيۡنَ‏  ﴿2:241﴾ كَذٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّٰهُ لَـکُمۡ اٰيٰتِهٖ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ‏ ﴿2:242﴾

(2:240) Those of you who die leaving behind your wives²⁶⁴ should make testament of one year’s provision without expulsion in favour of your wives; and if they themselves depart, there shall be no blame upon you for what they may do with themselves in an honourable manner. Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. (2:241) Likewise, let there be a fair provision for the divorced women; this is an obligation on the God-fearing. (2:242) Thus Allah makes His injunctions clear to you that you may understand.

Notes

264. The main discourse has already come to an end see (verse 238 an n. 262) above. These concluding remarks are supplementary,.

حَافِظُوۡا عَلَى الصَّلَوٰتِ وَالصَّلٰوةِ الۡوُسۡطٰى وَقُوۡمُوۡا لِلّٰهِ قٰنِتِيۡنَ‏ ﴿2:238﴾ فَاِنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ فَرِجَالًا اَوۡ رُكۡبَانًا ​​ ۚ فَاِذَآ اَمِنۡتُمۡ فَاذۡکُرُوا اللّٰهَ کَمَا عَلَّمَکُمۡ مَّا لَمۡ تَكُوۡنُوۡا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ‏ ﴿2:239﴾

(2:238) Be watchful over the Prayers,²⁶² and over praying with the utmost excellence,²⁶³ and stand before Allah as would utterly obedient servants. (2:239) And even if you face the state of fear, still perform the Prayer whether on foot or riding; and when you are secure, remember Allah in the manner that He taught you, the manner that you did not know earlier. 

Notes

262. Having mentioned the laws for the guidance of human society, God rounds off this address by emphasizing Prayer, for it is Prayers which instil in man the fear of God. They inculcate the feelings of goodness and purity and the disposition to obey the ordinances of God, and foster adherence to righteousness. Without Prayer it would be impossible for men to persist in observing the laws of God, and they would likely be swept away by a current of defiance and disobedience, as happened in the case of the Jews. 

263. ‘Re expression al-salat al-wusta has been variously interpreted to mean the Morning, Mid-Day, Sunset or Night Prayers. But no direct statement explaining this expression has come down from the Prophet himself. All the divergent opinions are deductions made by scholars. The opinion of the majority, seems to he inclined in favour of the Afternoon (‘Asr) Prayer. since it is claimed that on one occasion the Prophet alluded to this as al-salat al-wusta. The event cited in support of this inference is that during the Battle of the Ditch the Prophet once so preoccupied with the problems posed by the siege of Madina, by the polytheists, that he could not perform his ‘Asr Prayer within the scheduled time. and the time of sunset drew close. On that occasion the Prophet said: ‘God fill the graves and houses of these people with fire. They have caused us to our wusta (mid-most) Prayer.’ This statement led people to believe that the expression ‘mid-most Prayer’ referred to the 

‘Asr Prayer. It seems more likely, however, that the Prophet meant that the cares of the battle had prevented him and his followers from performing the Prayer in an excellent way; the delay in the Prayer meant that instead of praying with equanimity, concentration and total devotion, they were forced by circumstances to pray hurriedly. 

The adjective wusta in addition to signifying the middle position of the subject that it qualifies, also signifies its excellence. Hence the expression could legitimately be interpreted both in the sense of the middle Prayer as well as in the sense of the Prayer which is performed at the right time and with full devotion and attention to God, a Prayer which contains all the attributes of excellence. The admonition which follows, ‘stand before Allah as utterly, obedient servants’, seems to indicate what was meant by the ‘mid-most Prayer’.

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.

وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فِيۡمَا عَرَّضۡتُمۡ بِهٖ مِنۡ خِطۡبَةِ النِّسَآءِ اَوۡ اَکۡنَنۡتُمۡ فِىۡٓ اَنۡفُسِكُمۡ​ؕ عَلِمَ اللّٰهُ اَنَّكُمۡ سَتَذۡكُرُوۡنَهُنَّ وَلٰـكِنۡ لَّا تُوَاعِدُوۡهُنَّ سِرًّا اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ تَقُوۡلُوۡا قَوۡلًا مَّعۡرُوۡفًا ​ؕ وَلَا تَعۡزِمُوۡا عُقۡدَةَ النِّکَاحِ حَتّٰى يَبۡلُغَ الۡكِتٰبُ اَجَلَهٗ ​ؕ وَاعۡلَمُوۡٓا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يَعۡلَمُ مَا فِىۡٓ اَنۡفُسِكُمۡ فَاحۡذَرُوۡهُ ​ؕ وَاعۡلَمُوۡٓا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ غَفُوۡرٌ حَلِيۡمٌ‏ ﴿2:235﴾

(2:235) There is no blame upon you whether you hint at a marriage proposal to such women or keep the proposal hidden in your hearts. Allah knows that you will think of them in that connection. But do not make any secret engagement with them and speak openly in an honourable manner. Do not resolve on the marriage tie until the ordained term has come to its end. Know well that Allah knows even what is in your hearts. So, have fear of Him and know well that Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Forbearing. 

Notes

وَالۡوَالِدٰتُ يُرۡضِعۡنَ اَوۡلَادَهُنَّ حَوۡلَيۡنِ كَامِلَيۡنِ​ لِمَنۡ اَرَادَ اَنۡ يُّتِمَّ الرَّضَاعَةَ ​ ؕ وَعَلَى الۡمَوۡلُوۡدِ لَهٗ رِزۡقُهُنَّ وَكِسۡوَتُهُنَّ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ​ؕ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفۡسٌ اِلَّا وُسۡعَهَا ۚ لَا تُضَآرَّ وَالِدَةٌ ۢ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوۡلُوۡدٌ لَّهٗ بِوَلَدِهٖ وَعَلَى الۡوَارِثِ مِثۡلُ ذٰ لِكَ ۚ فَاِنۡ اَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَنۡ تَرَاضٍ مِّنۡهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِمَا ​ؕ وَاِنۡ اَرَدْتُّمۡ اَنۡ تَسۡتَرۡضِعُوۡٓا اَوۡلَادَكُمۡ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ اِذَا سَلَّمۡتُمۡ مَّآ اٰتَيۡتُمۡ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ​ؕ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَاعۡلَمُوۡٓا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ بَصِيۡرٌ‏﴿2:233﴾ وَالَّذِيۡنَ يُتَوَفَّوۡنَ مِنۡكُمۡ وَيَذَرُوۡنَ اَزۡوَاجًا يَّتَرَبَّصۡنَ بِاَنۡفُسِهِنَّ اَرۡبَعَةَ اَشۡهُرٍ وَّعَشۡرًا ​​ۚ فَاِذَا بَلَغۡنَ اَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فِيۡمَا فَعَلۡنَ فِىۡٓ اَنۡفُسِهِنَّ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِؕ وَاللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ خَبِيۡرٌ‏﴿2:234﴾

(2:233) If they (i.e. the fathers) wish that the period of suckling for their children be completed, mothers may suckle their children for two whole years.²⁵⁷ (In such a case) it is incumbent upon him who has begotten the child to provide them (i.e. divorced women) their sustenance and clothing in a fair manner. But none shall be burdened with more than he is able to bear; neither shall a mother suffer because of her child nor shall the father be made to suffer because he has begotten him. The same duty towards the suckling mother rests upon the heir²⁵⁸ as upon him (i.e. the father). And if both (the parents) decide, by mutual consent and consultation, to wean the child, there is no blame on them; if you decide to have other women suckle your children there is no blame upon you, provided you hand over its compensation in a fair manner. Fear Allah and know well that Allah sees all that you do. (2:234) The wives of men who have died must observe a waiting period of four months and ten days;²⁵⁹ when they have reached the end of the waiting term, there is no blame upon you regarding what they may do with themselves in a fair manner. Allah is well aware of what you do. 

Notes

257. This injunction applies to the condition where the couple have separated either because of divorce, or klul’ see (n. 252 above) or ‘ faskh (annulment) or tafriq (repudiation as a result of judicial decision) and the woman is nursing a child. 

258. That is, if the father dies, whoever replaces him as the guardian of the child will be responsible for fulfilling this claim. 

259. The waiting period owing to the death of the husband is obligatory even for a woman with whom consummation of marriage has not taken place. A pregnant woman, however, is exempted from this. Her waiting period expires the husband’s death and the childbirth is less than the waiting period prescribed by Law.

‘To observe a waiting period’ does not mean merely that they should refrain from marrying, but also from self-adornment. 

Hence we find categorical directives in the Hadith that a widow should neither wear colourful and showy dresses and jewellery, make use of henna, kohl, and perfumes, nor set her hair in an attractive style. There is disagreement, however, as to whether the widow may go out of her house during the waiting period. ‘Umar, ‘UthmaAn, Ibn ‘Umar, Zayd ibn Thabit, Ibn Mas’uid, Ummn Salamah, Said ibn al-Musayyib, Ibrahim al-Nakha’i, Muhammad ibn Sirin and the founders of the four legal schools are of the opinion that during the waiting period a woman should stay in the house in which her husband died. During the daytime she may go out to do necessary errands, but her residence should be her own home. On contrary, ‘A’ishah, Ibn ‘Abbas, ‘Ali, Jabir ibn ‘Abd Allah. ‘Ata’. Ta’us, Hasan al-Basri. ‘Umar ibn’Abd al’Aziz and the Zahiris are of the opinion that a widow may spend her waiting period wherever she likes, and may even go on journeys. (See the commentary on the verse in JassAs. vol. 1, pp. 418 f. – Ed.)