يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نَكَحْتُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ فَمَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ عِدَّةٍ تَعْتَدُّونَهَا ۖ فَمَتِّعُوهُنَّ وَسَرِّحُوهُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا 49
Translations
O you who have believed, when you marry believing women and then divorce them before you have touched them [i.e., consummated the marriage], then there is not for you any waiting period to count concerning them. So provide for them and give them a gracious release.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu idha nakhahtum al-mu'minat thumma tallaqtumuhunna min qabli an tamassuuhunna fama lakum alayihinna min iddatin ta'tadduunaha famatti'uhunna wa sarrihhuhunna sarahan jamilan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the ruling regarding divorce before consummation (before intimate relations): when a believer divorces a believing woman before having sexual relations with her, she incurs no waiting period ('iddah). However, the husband should still provide her with a gift (mut'ah) and release her with kind treatment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this is a merciful ruling that acknowledges the woman's dignity while recognizing that without consummation, the marriage has not fully taken effect, hence no extended 'iddah is required.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Ahzab, revealed in Medina during the consolidation of Islamic family law. The broader context addresses marriage, divorce, and women's rights, reflecting the Qur'an's comprehensive framework for protecting women's dignity and ensuring just treatment in marital dissolution. This specific ruling provides clarity on a practical scenario that arose in the early Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The ruling is supported by reports in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim regarding the obligation of mut'ah (gift upon divorce). 'Aishah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) established the principle of kindness in divorce proceedings, with various narrations discussing the mut'ah for women divorced before consummation.
Themes
Key Lesson
Islam balances legal justice with mercy: while acknowledging differences in marital status based on consummation, it never permits harsh or unjust treatment of women. This teaches believers to approach family matters with both wisdom and compassion, ensuring kindness even in difficult circumstances.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
O Prophet, fear Allāh and do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.
يَـٰنِسَآءَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ مَن يَأْتِ مِنكُنَّ بِفَـٰحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ يُضَـٰعَفْ لَهَا ٱلْعَذَابُ ضِعْفَيْنِ ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًا
O wives of the Prophet, whoever of you should commit a clear immorality - for her the punishment would be doubled two fold, and ever is that, for Allāh, easy.
مَّا كَانَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ مِنْ حَرَجٍ فِيمَا فَرَضَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ ۖ سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ فِى ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ قَدَرًا مَّقْدُورًا
There is not to be upon the Prophet any discomfort concerning that which Allāh has imposed upon him. [This is] the established way of Allāh with those [prophets] who have passed on before. And ever is the command of Allāh a destiny decreed.
۞ تُرْجِى مَن تَشَآءُ مِنْهُنَّ وَتُـْٔوِىٓ إِلَيْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ وَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَيْتَ مِمَّنْ عَزَلْتَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن تَقَرَّ أَعْيُنُهُنَّ وَلَا يَحْزَنَّ وَيَرْضَيْنَ بِمَآ ءَاتَيْتَهُنَّ كُلُّهُنَّ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَلِيمًا
You, [O Muḥammad], may put aside whom you will of them or take to yourself whom you will. And any that you desire of those [wives] from whom you had [temporarily] separated - there is no blame upon you [in returning her]. That is more suitable that they should be content and not grieve and that they should be satisfied with what you have given them - all of them. And Allāh knows what is in your hearts. And ever is Allāh Knowing and Forbearing.