يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ ۖ لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِنۢ بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَـٰحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ لَا تَدْرِى لَعَلَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًا 1
Translations
O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period and keep count of the waiting period, and fear Allāh, your Lord. Do not turn them out of their [husbands'] houses, nor should they [themselves] leave [during that period] unless they are committing a clear immorality. And those are the limits [set by] Allāh. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allāh has certainly wronged himself. You know not; perhaps Allāh will bring about after that a [different] matter.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha an-nabiyyu idha tallaqtumu an-nisaa fa-talliqu hunna li-iddatihinna wa ahsū al-iddah wa attaqū Allah rabbakum la tukhrijūhunna min buyūtihinna wa la yakhrijnas illa an ya'tīna bi-fāhishat in mubayyanah wa tilka hudūd Allah wa man yata'adda hudūd Allah fa-qad dhalam nafsahu la tadrī la'allā Allah yuhdithu ba'da dhālik amrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This foundational verse establishes the Islamic protocols for divorce (talaq), commanding that women be divorced according to their waiting period ('iddah) and that both spouses maintain consciousness of Allah. The verse emphasizes the rights of divorced women by prohibiting their expulsion from their homes during the 'iddah unless they commit a clear indecency, and reminds men that they should not despair of reconciliation as Allah may bring about a change of circumstance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse represents a significant reformation of pre-Islamic divorce practices, establishing protections for women and encouraging marital preservation.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Medina during the later Islamic period and addresses the practical legal and moral dimensions of divorce within the Muslim community. The verse responds to the need for clear, just guidelines on divorce after the Prophet (peace be upon him) prohibited arbitrary and harmful divorce practices prevalent in pre-Islamic Arabia, establishing a framework that balances the right to divorce with protection of women's rights.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most disliked of permissible things to Allah is divorce.' Additionally, Sunan Abu Dawud contains hadiths detailing the proper observance of 'iddah and the rights of divorced women during this period, which directly apply this verse's injunctions.
Themes
Key Lesson
This verse teaches Muslims that even in the dissolution of marriage, justice, compassion, and God-consciousness must prevail; it reminds both spouses that divorce is not the end of moral and legal responsibility, and that hope for reconciliation should remain present. For modern readers, it emphasizes that Islamic law prioritizes protecting vulnerable parties and maintaining dignity even in difficult circumstances, while the phrase 'lest Allah might bring about a matter thereafter' inspires hope that situations can improve through patience and reliance on divine wisdom.
Related Ayahs
وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ عَتَتْ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهَا وَرُسُلِهِۦ فَحَاسَبْنَـٰهَا حِسَابًا شَدِيدًا وَعَذَّبْنَـٰهَا عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا
And how many a city was insolent toward the command of its Lord and His messengers, so We took it to severe account and punished it with a terrible punishment.
وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدْرًا
And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allāh - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allāh will accomplish His purpose. Allāh has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.
وَٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى يَئِسْنَ مِنَ ٱلْمَحِيضِ مِن نِّسَآئِكُمْ إِنِ ٱرْتَبْتُمْ فَعِدَّتُهُنَّ ثَلَـٰثَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى لَمْ يَحِضْنَ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰتُ ٱلْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ يُسْرًا
And those who no longer expect menstruation among your women - if you doubt, then their period is three months, and [also for] those who have not menstruated. And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth. And whoever fears Allāh - He will make for him of his matter ease.
فَذَاقَتْ وَبَالَ أَمْرِهَا وَكَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ أَمْرِهَا خُسْرًا
And it tasted the bad consequence of its affair [i.e., rebellion], and the outcome of its affair was loss.