وَإِنْ عَزَمُوا۟ ٱلطَّلَـٰقَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ 227
Translations
And if they decide on divorce - then indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
Transliteration
Wa in 'azamū al-ṭalāqa fa-inna Allāha samī'un 'alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the passage on the waiting period (iddah) of divorced women, affirming that if husbands are determined to proceed with divorce, Allah is All-Hearing and All-Knowing of their intentions and actions. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as emphasizing divine omniscience regarding the sincerity or insincerity of the husband's resolve, suggesting that Allah's knowledge encompasses both the outward declaration and the hidden intentions behind the divorce pronouncement.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the detailed regulations on divorce revealed in Madinah (2:226-232), addressing the practice of 'ilā' (oath of abstinence from marital relations). The context deals with husbands who swear to abstain from their wives and the waiting period before divorce becomes final, reflecting the Qur'an's comprehensive guidance on family law and marital disputes in the Islamic community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most disliked of permissible things to Allah is divorce' (Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, Umar ibn al-Khattab reported that the Prophet discouraged hasty divorces and emphasized careful consideration (Musnad Ahmad).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah's perfect knowledge encompasses both our outward actions and inner intentions, encouraging sincere reconsideration before taking irreversible decisions like divorce, which affects families and communities. It underscores that no decision is hidden from Allah, promoting accountability and thoughtfulness in matters of grave personal consequence.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌۢ بِأَىِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۢ
Indeed, Allāh [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Aware.
مَّا خَلْقُكُمْ وَلَا بَعْثُكُمْ إِلَّا كَنَفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
Your creation and your resurrection will not be but as that of a single soul. Indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ فِى مِرْيَةٍ مِّن لِّقَآءِ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّحِيطٌۢ
Unquestionably, they are in doubt about the meeting with their Lord. Unquestionably He is, of all things, encompassing.
وَلَوْ أَنَّمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِن شَجَرَةٍ أَقْلَـٰمٌ وَٱلْبَحْرُ يَمُدُّهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ سَبْعَةُ أَبْحُرٍ مَّا نَفِدَتْ كَلِمَـٰتُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
And if whatever trees upon the earth were pens and the sea [was ink], replenished thereafter by seven [more] seas, the words of Allāh would not be exhausted. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.