وَإِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَبَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ أَن يَنكِحْنَ أَزْوَٰجَهُنَّ إِذَا تَرَٰضَوْا۟ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ مِنكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۗ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَزْكَىٰ لَكُمْ وَأَطْهَرُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ 232
Translations
And when you divorce women and they have fulfilled their term, do not prevent them from remarrying their [former] husbands if they [i.e., all parties] agree among themselves on an acceptable basis. That is instructed to whoever of you believes in Allāh and the Last Day. That is better for you and purer, and Allāh knows and you know not.
Transliteration
Wa-idha tallaqtumu an-nisaa fa-balaghna ajalahunna fa-la ta'duluhoonna an yankihna azwajahunna idha taradaw baynamhum bi-al-ma'roof. Dhaliка yu'aza bihi man kana minkum yu'minu bi-Allah wa-al-yawm al-akhir. Dhalikum azkaa lakum wa-athar. Wa-Allah ya'lamu wa-antum la ta'lamoon.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah prohibits guardians (typically fathers) from preventing divorced women from remarrying their former husbands if both parties consent to the union in accordance with Islamic principles. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that 'adl (preventing/obstructing) is forbidden and that the mutual consent of both spouses supersedes parental objection in remarriage. The ayah concludes with the principle that such conduct is spiritually purer and more virtuous, as only Allah possesses complete knowledge of what benefits the believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period and addresses a specific social practice where some guardians would prevent their daughters from remarrying former husbands out of spite or malice. The broader context within Surah Al-Baqarah deals with marriage, divorce, and the rights and responsibilities of both genders, establishing just conduct ('ma'roof') as the guiding principle in familial affairs.
Related Hadiths
The principle is reinforced in Sunan Ibn Majah where the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed that a woman has the right to choose whom to marry. Additionally, Sunan Abu Dawud contains rulings that a guardian cannot prevent a capable woman from marrying a suitable suitor without valid Islamic grounds.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith involves respecting the autonomy and rights of others, particularly women, and refraining from causing harm out of personal grudge or emotion. Modern believers should reflect on how respecting others' choices in matters of personal concern—when conducted righteously—demonstrates taqwa (God-consciousness) and aligns with divine wisdom.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّى فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
O Children of Israel, remember My favor that I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds [i.e., peoples].
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ فِرَٰشًا وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بِنَآءً وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
[He] who made for you the earth a bed [spread out] and the sky a ceiling and sent down from the sky, rain and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. So do not attribute to Allāh equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him].
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا ٱسْمُهُۥ وَسَعَىٰ فِى خَرَابِهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَن يَدْخُلُوهَآ إِلَّا خَآئِفِينَ ۚ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
And who are more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allāh from being mentioned [i.e., praised] in His mosques and strive toward their destruction. It is not for them to enter them except in fear. For them in this world is disgrace, and they will have in the Hereafter a great punishment.
يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِعَهْدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرْهَبُونِ
O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and fulfill My covenant [upon you] that I will fulfill your covenant [from Me], and be afraid of [only] Me.