Commentary on the Koran: Surah 65 “Divorce” (No. Q065)

Pickthall Translation; Bible Quotes are from the English Standard Version unless otherwise noted.

Introduction

At-Talaq derives its name from the texts in verses 1-7. It contains an amendment to the laws on divorce set out in Surah 2.

Tradition has it that it refers to a mistake made by Ibn ‘Umar in divorcing his wife which was said to happen in the Sixth year of the Hijrah. However, others related that the Prophet only quoted this Surah which had already been revealed. Thus the date is the Sixth year of the Hijrah (627 CE) or a little earlier.

65.1. O Prophet! When ye (men) put away women, put them away for their (legal) period and reckon the period, and keep your duty to Allah, your Lord. Expel them not from their houses nor let them go forth unless they commit open immorality. Such are the limits (imposed by) Allah; and whoso transgresseth Allah's limits, he verily wrongeth his soul. Thou knowest not: it may be that Allah will afterward bring some new thing to pass.

65.2. Then, when they have reached their term, take them back in kindness or part from them in kindness, and call to witness two just men among you, and keep your testimony upright for Allah. Whoso believeth in Allah and the Last Day is exhorted to act thus. And whosoever keepeth his duty to Allah, Allah will appoint a way out for him,

65.3. And will provide for him from (a quarter) whence he hath no expectation. And whosoever putteth his trust in Allah, He will suffice him. Lo! Allah bringeth His command to pass. Allah hath set a measure for all things.

Malachi 2:16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

Matthew 5:32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Matthew 19:8-9 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. ⁹And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

Luke 16:18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

1Corinthians 7:10-11 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband ¹¹(but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

Divorce should not be finalized during the prescribed period in the interest of the husband and wife and that of the unborn child. During that period the wife should not be asked to leave the family home. Divorce should only take place under exceptional circumstances where reconciliation is not at all possible as we know from the quote from Malachi 2 above that God hates divorce.

65.4. And for such of your women as despair of menstruation, if ye doubt, their period (of waiting) shall be three months, along with those who have it not. And for those with child, their period shall be till they bring forth their burden. And whosoever keepeth his duty to Allah, He maketh his course easy for him.

The prescribed period for women who have reached menopause is three months and also for those women who have stopped menstruating. The prescribed period for those expecting a child should be after the birth of the infant.

We need to trust God and be faithful to him, we are to keep our duty to him as per the commandments and regulations laid down for us.

65.5. That is the commandment of Allah which He revealeth unto you. And whoso keepeth his duty to Allah, He will remit from him his evil deeds and magnify reward for him.

Refer to Romans 2:6-7 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 36 (No. Q036) at ayat 58 and Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 43 (No. Q043) at ayat 64.

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

65.6. Lodge them where ye dwell, according to your wealth, and harass them not so as to straiten life for them. And if they are with child, then spend for them till they bring forth their burden. Then, if they give suck for you, give them their due payment and consult together in kindness; but if ye make difficulties for one another, then let some other woman give suck for him (the father of the child).

65.7. Let him who hath abundance spend of his abundance, and he whose provision is measured, let him spend of that which Allah hath given him. Allah asketh naught of any soul save that which He hath given it. Allah will vouchsafe, after hardship, ease.

Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

1Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

The man must make adequate provision for the welfare of his ex wife and if there is a child from the union he has to provide adequately for it and for the mother to properly nurse the child.

1John 3:17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

65.8. And how many a community revolted against the ordinance of its Lord and His messengers, and We called it to a stern account and punished it with dire punishment,

65.9. So that it tasted the ill-effects of its conduct, and the consequence of its conduct was loss.

65.10. Allah hath prepared for them stern punishment; so keep your duty to Allah, O men of understanding! O ye who believe! Now Allah hath sent down unto you a reminder,

See 2Chronicles 36:16 in Commentary on the Koran (No. Q010) at ayat 39; Nehemiah 9:30 Commentary on the Koran: Surah 22 (No. Q022) at ayat 49 and Deuteronomy 10:12-13 Commentary on the Koran: Surah 35 (No. Q035) at ayat 28.

Deuteronomy 28:47-48 Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, ⁴⁸therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Ezra 5:12 But because our fathers had angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia.

1Peter 3:10-12 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; ¹¹let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. ¹²For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

65.11. A messenger reciting unto you the revelations of Allah made plain, that He may bring forth those who believe and do good works from darkness unto light. And whosoever believeth in Allah and doeth right, He will bring him into Gardens underneath which rivers flow, therein to abide for ever. Allah hath made good provision for him.

Isaiah 42:21 The LORD was pleased, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious.

Psalm 71:16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

Refer to John 5:28-29 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 20 (No. Q020) at ayat 55; 1Peter 2:9 Commentary on the Koran: Surah 31 (No. Q031) at ayat 9; and see Commentary on the Koran: Surah 44 (No. Q044) for Matthew 5:17 at ayat 2 and Revelation 20:6 at ayat 57.

65.12. Allah it is who hath created seven heavens, and of the earth the like thereof. The commandment cometh down among them slowly, that ye may know that Allah is Able to do all things, and that Allah surroundeth all things in knowledge.

See Proverbs 21:30 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 47 (No. 047) at ayat 1.

Refer also to Commentary on Koran: Surah 30 (No. Q030) for Jeremiah 32:17 at ayat 8 and 2Peter 3:9 at ayat 60, and Psalm 146:5-6 Commentary on the Koran: Surah 31 (No. Q031) at ayat 11.

Jeremiah 51:15 It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

Romans 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Colossians 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

God created the heavens and the earth and enables all things and judges all things.

Women obey your husbands and husbands love and care for your wives. God hates divorce.

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