Sūrah 65
Sūrah al-Ṭalāq
Introduction to this pair
Both these sūrahs form a pair with regard to their topics. In the first sūrah, the limits which should be observed by believers while parting from wives are explained, while in the second sūrah, the limits they should observe at instances of expressing love to them are described.
Both sūrahs are addressed to the Muslims, and it is evident from their topics that they were revealed in Madīnah in the tazkiyah and taṭhīr phase of Prophet Muḥammad’s (sws) preaching mission.
The theme of Sūrah al-Ṭalāq is to teach Muslims that if a person has to divorce his wife, then how diligently and to what extent he should adhere to the limits prescribed by God.
The theme of Sūrah al-Taḥrīm is to inform Muslims how, at times of showing love and affection, they should try to keep themselves and their families within the limits prescribed by God. Moreover, it is emphasized that each person should remain aware that the only thing that will be of avail to him before God is his deeds. In their absence, association with the greatest of personalities will not be of any benefit.
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Ever-Merciful.
O Prophet! When you people divorce your wives, divorce them according to their waiting period and properly count the waiting period and keep fearing God, your Lord. [During the waiting period,] neither should you turn them out of their houses nor should they themselves leave except if they are guilty of some open vulgarity. These are the bounds set by God and those who transgress the bounds of God should remember that it is they who have been unjust only to their own souls. You know not that God might thereafter create new circumstances.
[Divorce your wives in this very manner.] Then when they approach the end of their waiting period, either retain them in marriage in a fair manner or part with them with kindness. And [whether you want to keep them or part with them, in both cases] call to witness two honest persons from among you. And [for the witnesses, the directive of God is: “O Witnesses!] Adhere to this testimony for God.” It is this to which those [of you] are exhorted who believe in God and in the Last Day. And [if] those who fear God encounter any difficulty, God will find a way out for them and will provide them from where they could never imagine. And those who put their trust in God, for them He is enough [to help them]. Indeed, God is sure to bring about His plans. [And yes, it definitely is a fact that] God has set a measure for all things.
Those of your women, who have ceased menstruating and they also who have not menstruated [in spite of reaching its age], if you have any doubt about them, their waiting period is three months. And the waiting period of pregnant women is until they deliver the child. [These are the directives of God; follow them,] and [remember that] he who fears God, He will create ease for him in his matters. This is the directive of God which He has revealed to you. And He who fears God, God will brush away his sins from him and will increase the reward [of his virtues].
[During the waiting period,] lodge these women where you live according to your means, and do not harass them to tease them. And if they are pregnant, spend on them until they deliver the child. Then if they suckle [your child] for you, give them their remuneration and decide this matter according to the custom through mutual consultation. And if you find yourselves in difficulty, another woman may suckle the child. [He among you] who is well-off should spend according to his means, and he whose resources are restricted, should spend according to what God has given him. God does not burden a person with more than what He has given him. [Rest assured,] after some difficulty, God will soon grant relief.
[These are the limits prescribed by God. If you cross them, then remember that] many a city [before you] rebelled against the
directives of its Lord and His messengers! So, We sternly held them accountable and meted out to them a grievous penalty. Thus, they tasted the fruit of what they did and their fate was deprivation. God has also prepared a dreadful torment for them [in the Hereafter]. So, have fear of God, O men of intellect who have embraced faith! God has sent down to you a reminder: a messenger who reads out to you the revelations of God that clarify everything so that he may lead from darkness to light those who have embraced faith and have done righteous deeds. And those who profess faith in God and do righteous deeds [His promise with them is that] He will admit them into gardens beneath which streams flow. They will abide therein forever. God has prepared for them the best provision.
God is the One Who has created seven heavens and also earths like them. His directives keep descending between them. This has been told so that you may know that God has power over all things and may know that God’s knowledge encompasses all things.