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
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.
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.
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تُتْرَكُوا۟ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا رَسُولِهِۦ وَلَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلِيجَةً ۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
Do you think that you will be left [as you are] while Allāh has not yet made evident those among you who strive [for His cause] and do not take other than Allāh, His Messenger and the believers as intimates? And Allāh is [fully] Aware of what you do.
وَهُوَ ٱللَّهُ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّكُمْ وَجَهْرَكُمْ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُونَ
And He is Allāh, [the only deity] in the heavens and the earth. He knows your secret and what you make public, and He knows that which you earn.