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
وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَـٰهُ كِتَـٰبًا
But all things We have enumerated in writing.
وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ لَخَبِيرٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
And that which We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], of the Book is the truth, confirming what was before it. Indeed Allāh, of His servants, is Aware and Seeing.
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.
قُلْ أَتُعَلِّمُونَ ٱللَّهَ بِدِينِكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Say, "Would you acquaint Allāh with your religion while Allāh knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and Allāh is Knowing of all things?"