وَلِلْمُطَلَّقَـٰتِ مَتَـٰعٌۢ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۖ حَقًّا عَلَى ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ 241
Translations
And for divorced women is a provision according to what is acceptable - a duty upon the righteous.
Transliteration
Wa-lilmutallaqāti matāʿun bil-maʿrūf, ḥaqqan ʿalā al-muttaqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that divorced women have the right to receive maintenance (matāʿ) from their ex-husbands according to what is customary and reasonable (bil-maʿrūf), and this is made an obligatory duty (ḥaqq) upon those who fear Allah (al-muttaqīn). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this provision ensures the dignity and financial security of divorced women during their waiting period (ʿiddah) and reflects Islamic concern for the vulnerable. The phrase 'ḥaqq ʿalā al-muttaqīn' (a duty upon the God-fearing) underscores that providing for divorced women is not merely a recommended act but a binding obligation rooted in piety and social responsibility.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the comprehensive legislation on divorce (talāq) in Surah Al-Baqarah, revealed in Madinah to address the practical legal needs of the Muslim community. It follows verses detailing divorce procedures and rights, establishing protections for women during marital dissolution—a critical social reform in 7th-century Arabian society.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (5273): The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The best of you are those who are best to their wives.' This hadith emphasizes kindness to women, which extends to fair treatment during divorce. Also relevant: Abu Dawud (2226) regarding the obligation to provide maintenance (nafaqah) for divorced women during their waiting period.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true piety (taqwa) is demonstrated through fulfilling financial and social obligations toward those in vulnerable circumstances, particularly divorced women. It reminds us that Islamic law prioritizes human dignity and justice, especially for those whose status changes, and that generosity and fair treatment in difficult situations are marks of God-consciousness.
Related Ayahs
مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ
Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allāh took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.
وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۖ وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا۟ رُءُوسَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْهَدْىُ مَحِلَّهُۥ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِۦٓ أَذًى مِّن رَّأْسِهِۦ فَفِدْيَةٌ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ ۚ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى ٱلْحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۚ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَـٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ ۗ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌ كَامِلَةٌ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُۥ حَاضِرِى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
And complete the ḥajj and ʿumrah for Allāh. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs ʿumrah [during the ḥajj months] followed by ḥajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during ḥajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām. And fear Allāh and know that Allāh is severe in penalty.
وَلَتَجِدَنَّهُمْ أَحْرَصَ ٱلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ حَيَوٰةٍ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ ۚ يَوَدُّ أَحَدُهُمْ لَوْ يُعَمَّرُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمُزَحْزِحِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ أَن يُعَمَّرَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرٌۢ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ
And you will surely find them the most greedy of people for life - [even] more than those who associate others with Allāh. One of them wishes that he could be granted life a thousand years, but it would not remove him in the least from the [coming] punishment that he should be granted life. And Allāh is Seeing of what they do.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِى نَفْسَهُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ رَءُوفٌۢ بِٱلْعِبَادِ
And of the people is he who sells himself, seeking means to the approval of Allāh. And Allāh is Kind to [His] servants.