Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 230–232

2. Al-Baqara · The Cow

Madinan286 verses

فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُۥ ۗ فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَآ أَن يَتَرَاجَعَآ إِن ظَنَّآ أَن يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ يُبَيِّنُهَا لِقَوْمٍۢ يَعْلَمُونَ

2:230And if he divorces her, she will not be lawful for him thereafter until she marries a husband other than him, and if he divorces her, there is no sin upon them to remarry if they think that they can maintain Allah’s bounds. These are Allah’s bounds, which He clarifies for a people who have knowledge.1

وَإِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَبَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ سَرِّحُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍۢ ۚ وَلَا تُمْسِكُوهُنَّ ضِرَارًۭا لِّتَعْتَدُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ هُزُوًۭا ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَٱلْحِكْمَةِ يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۭ

2:231When you divorce women and they complete their term [of waiting], then either retain them honourably or release them honourably, and do not retain them maliciously in order that you may transgress; and whoever does that certainly wrongs himself. Do not take the signs of Allah in derision, and remember Allah’s blessing upon you, and what He has sent down to you of the Book and wisdom, to advise you therewith. Be wary of Allah and know that Allah has knowledge of all things.23

وَإِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَبَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ أَن يَنكِحْنَ أَزْوَٰجَهُنَّ إِذَا تَرَٰضَوْا۟ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ مِنكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۗ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَزْكَىٰ لَكُمْ وَأَطْهَرُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

2:232When you divorce women and they complete their term, do not hinder them from [re]marrying their husbands, when they honourably reach mutual consent. Herewith are advised those of you who believe in Allah and the Last Day. That will be more decent and purer for you, and Allah knows and you do not know.456

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 230

1.Be it known that three divorce means to give divorce three times. By saying verbally divorce three times is not a divorce. And the clear proof for this is that Divorce demands copulation then if after one divorce there is no contact or if after the iddah marriage is not performed the question of the second divorce does not arise. If to recite divorce three times in a single sitting constitute three divorces where was the second marriage? And if altogether they make one divorce then it is wrong to apply the conditions of three divorces in a single one. It is only the innovation of Umar which is against the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) and the companions. (Ref: Tafseerul Manaar)

Verse 231

2.It is said near the end because the power to reconcile is within the period of Iddah and not after completing the period. And here to prevent means to reconcile with them. Some people used to reconcile with their wives to trouble them so that they can’t remarry and that they may always remain in difficulties. Such people are called the mockers of the divine ayats and by reminding favours, comfort and the love of the married partners we are restrained from thanklessness.

Verse 232

3.This is a warning against the course of action in which people neither remarried the women after marriage themselves nor allowed others to marry them. That their divorced wives should remain in the wedlock of others. The Holy Quran has made this prohibition unlawful and allowed the women to remarry as they wished. And in this way it has invalidated the power of the guardian over her.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. 1

    This Nikah is used in the meaning of sexual intercourse. Here only marriage is not sufficient.

  2. 2

    This right is Rujoo and freedom does not denote Rujoo. It denotes good behaviour.

  3. 3

    Matrimony is a bounty, which gives comfort in life and creates feeling of mercy and love.

  4. 4

    It may denote the first husband or the new husband.

  5. 5

    Advice is given only to believers and it is effective only for them and if the advice has no effect the person really lacks faith.

  6. 6

    Second marriage causes increase in progeny and purification of character. To oppose this is ignorance and dirty conscience.

  7. Benefit

    In the 233rd ayat the mention of the child is to awaken the emotions of the father that neither should the child be separated from mother causing distress to her nor should the child be separated from the father causing him pain.