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
رَّبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ ۖ إِن يَشَأْ يَرْحَمْكُمْ أَوْ إِن يَشَأْ يُعَذِّبْكُمْ ۚ وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيلًا
Your Lord is most knowing of you. If He wills, He will have mercy upon you; or if He wills, He will punish you. And We have not sent you, [O Muḥammad], over them as a manager.
قُلْ كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ عَلَىٰ شَاكِلَتِهِۦ فَرَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ هُوَ أَهْدَىٰ سَبِيلًا
Say, "Each works according to his manner, but your Lord is most knowing of who is best guided in way."
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ مَا تَرَكَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ بَصِيرًۢا
And if Allāh were to impose blame on the people for what they have earned, He would not leave upon it [i.e., the earth] any creature. But He defers them for a specified term. And when their time comes, then indeed Allāh has ever been, of His servants, Seeing.
أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ يَثْنُونَ صُدُورَهُمْ لِيَسْتَخْفُوا۟ مِنْهُ ۚ أَلَا حِينَ يَسْتَغْشُونَ ثِيَابَهُمْ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
Unquestionably, they [i.e., the disbelievers] turn away their breasts to hide themselves from him. Unquestionably, [even] when they cover themselves in their clothing, He [i.e., Allāh] knows what they conceal and what they declare. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.