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
وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِأَنَّ لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ فَضْلًا كَبِيرًا
And give good tidings to the believers that they will have from Allāh great bounty.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِنَّآ أَحْلَلْنَا لَكَ أَزْوَٰجَكَ ٱلَّـٰتِىٓ ءَاتَيْتَ أُجُورَهُنَّ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ مِمَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمِّكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمَّـٰتِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَـٰلَـٰتِكَ ٱلَّـٰتِى هَاجَرْنَ مَعَكَ وَٱمْرَأَةً مُّؤْمِنَةً إِن وَهَبَتْ نَفْسَهَا لِلنَّبِىِّ إِنْ أَرَادَ ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَن يَسْتَنكِحَهَا خَالِصَةً لَّكَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۗ قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا فَرَضْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِىٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ لِكَيْلَا يَكُونَ عَلَيْكَ حَرَجٌ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful to you your wives to whom you have given their due compensation and those your right hand possesses from what Allāh has returned to you [of captives] and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you and a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet [and] if the Prophet wishes to marry her; [this is] only for you, excluding the [other] believers. We certainly know what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and those their right hands possess, [but this is for you] in order that there will be upon you no discomfort [i.e., difficulty]. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاذَوْا۟ مُوسَىٰ فَبَرَّأَهُ ٱللَّهُ مِمَّا قَالُوا۟ ۚ وَكَانَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَجِيهًا
O you who have believed, be not like those who abused Moses; then Allāh cleared him of what they said. And he, in the sight of Allāh, was distinguished.
وَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلْأَحْزَابَ قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا مَا وَعَدَنَا ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَصَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ ۚ وَمَا زَادَهُمْ إِلَّآ إِيمَـٰنًا وَتَسْلِيمًا
And when the believers saw the companies, they said, "This is what Allāh and His Messenger had promised us, and Allāh and His Messenger spoke the truth." And it increased them only in faith and acceptance.