Surah Al-Baqarah — Verse 229
The Cow · 2:229 · 229/286
ٱلطَّلَـٰقُ مَرَّتَانِ ۖ فَإِمْسَاكٌۢ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌۢ بِإِحْسَـٰنٍ ۗ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَأْخُذُوا۟ مِمَّآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّآ أَن يَخَافَآ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا فِيمَا ٱفْتَدَتْ بِهِۦ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَعْتَدُوهَا ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
Attalaqu marratanifa-imsakun bimaAAroofin aw tasreehun bi-ihsaninwala yahillu lakum an ta'khuthoo mimmaataytumoohunna shay-an illa an yakhafaalla yuqeema hudooda Allahi fa-inkhiftum alla yuqeema hudooda Allahifala junaha AAalayhima feema iftadatbihi tilka hudoodu Allahi fala taAAtadoohawaman yataAAadda hudooda Allahi faola-ikahumu aththalimoon
Translations of this verse 7
Saheeh International
Divorce is twice. Then [after that], either keep [her] in an acceptable manner or release [her] with good treatment. And it is not lawful for you to take anything of what you have given them unless both fear that they will not be able to keep [within] the limits of Allāh. But if you fear that they will not keep [within] the limits of Allāh, then there is no blame upon either of them concerning that by which she ransoms herself. These are the limits of Allāh, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allāh - it is those who are the wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust].
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
Divorce can happen twice, and [each time] wives either be kept on in an acceptable manner or released in a good way. It is not lawful for you to take back anything that you have given [your wives], except where both fear that they cannot maintain [the marriage] within the bounds set by God: if you [arbiters] suspect that the couple may not be able to do this, then there will be no blame on either of them if the woman opts to give something for her release. These are the bounds set by God: do not overstep them. It is those who overstep God’s bounds who are doing wrong.
Marmaduke Pickthall
Divorce must be pronounced twice and then (a woman) must be retained in honour or released in kindness. And it is not lawful for you that ye take from women aught of that which ye have given them; except (in the case) when both fear that they may not be able to keep within the limits (imposed by) Allah. And if ye fear that they may not be able to keep the limits of Allah, in that case it is no sin for either of them if the woman ransom herself. These are the limits (imposed by) Allah. Transgress them not. For whoso transgresseth Allah's limits: such are wrong-doers.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
A divorce is only permissible twice: after that, the parties should either hold Together on equitable terms, or separate with kindness. It is not lawful for you, (Men), to take back any of your gifts (from your wives), except when both parties fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah. If ye (judges) do indeed fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah, there is no blame on either of them if she give something for her freedom. These are the limits ordained by Allah; so do not transgress them if any do transgress the limits ordained by Allah, such persons wrong (Themselves as well as others).
Mufti Taqi Usmani
Divorce is twice; then either to retain in all fairness, or to release nicely. It is not lawful for you to take back anything from what you have given them, unless both apprehend that they would not be able to maintain the limits set by Allah. Now, if you apprehend that they would not maintain the limits set by Allah, then, there is no sin on them in what she gives up to secure her release. These are the limits set by Allah. Therefore, do not exceed them. Whosoever exceeds the limits set by Allah, then, those are the transgressors.
Al-Hilali & Khan
The divorce is twice, after that, either you retain her on reasonable terms or release her with kindness. And it is not lawful for you (men) to take back (from your wives) any of your Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) which you have given them, except when both parties fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allâh (e.g. to deal with each other on a fair basis). Then if you fear that they would not be able to keep the limits ordained by Allâh, then there is no sin on either of them if she gives back (the Mahr or a part of it) for her Al-Khul‘ (divorce). These are the limits ordained by Allâh, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits ordained by Allâh, then such are the Zâlimûn (wrong-doers).
Abul A'la Maududi (Tafhim)
Divorce can be pronounced twice: then, either honourable retention or kindly release should follow. (While dissolving the marriage tie) it is unlawful for you to take back anything of what you have given to your wives unless both fear that they may not be able to keep within the bounds set by Allah. Then, if they fear that they might not be able to keep within the bounds set by Allah, there is no blame upon them for what the wife might give away of her property to become released from the marriage tie. These are the bounds set by Allah; do not transgress them. Those of you who transgress the bounds set by Allah are indeed the wrong-doers.
Reason for Revelation Asbāb al-Nuzūl
Arabic source: al-Wāḥidī / al-Suyūṭī, via Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies (CC BY 4.0)
قال تعالى: {الطَّلَاقُ مَرَّتَانِ فَإِمْسَاكٌ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌ بِإِحْسَانٍ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَنْ تَأْخُذُوا مِمَّا آتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ شَيْئًا إِلَّا أَنْ يَخَافَا أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ اللَّهِ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا فِيمَا افْتَدَتْ بِهِ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ فَلَا تَعْتَدُوهَا وَمَنْ يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ اللَّهِ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ (229)} [البقرة: 229].
52 - عَنْ عَائِشَةَ - رضي الله عنها - قَالَتْ: كَانَ النَّاسُ، وَالرَّجُلُ يُطَلِّقُ امْرَأَتَهُ مَا شَاءَ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَهَا، وَهِيَ امْرَأَتُهُ إِذَا ارْتَجَعَهَا وَهِيَ فِي الْعِدَّةِ، وَإِنْ طَلَّقَهَا مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ، حَتَّى قَالَ رَجُلٌ لامْرَأَتِهِ: وَاللهِ لاَ أُطَلِّقُكَ فَتَبِينِي مِنِّي، وَلاَ آوِيكِ أَبَداً.
قَالَتْ: وَكَيْفَ ذَاكَ؟ قَالَ: أُطَلِّقُكِ فَكُلَّمَا هَمَّتْ عِدَّتُكِ أَنْ تَنْقَضِيَ رَاجَعْتُكِ. فَذَهَبَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ حَتَّى دَخَلَتْ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَأَخْبَرَتْهَا، فَسَكَتَتْ عَائِشَةُ حَتَّى جَاءَ النَّبِيُّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فَأَخْبَرَتْهُ، فَسَكَتَ النَّبِيُّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - حَتَّى نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ: {الطَّلَاقُ مَرَّتَانِ فَإِمْسَاكٌ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌ بِإِحْسَانٍ}. قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: فَاسْتَأْنَفَ النَّاسُ الطَّلاَقَ مُسْتَقْبَلاً، مَنْ كَانَ طَلَّقَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ طَلَّقَ ¬أخرجه الترمذي برقم: 1192، والحاكم: 2/ 279 - 280 وصححه، وفيه ضعف بسبب يعلى بن شبيب، لكن له شاهد من الحدبث الذي بعده، ومن مرسل قتادة، أخرجه ابن جرير: 2/ 276 وإسناده صحيح، فبهما يصبح الحديث حسناً لغيره.¥.
53 - عن هِشامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: كَانَ الرَّجُلُ إِذَا طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ ثُمَّ ارْتَجَعَهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْقَضِيَ عِدَّتُهَا، كَانَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ، وَإِنْ طَلَّقَهَا أَلْفَ مَرَّةٍ، فَعَمَدَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى امْرَأَتِهِ فَطَلَّقَهَا، حَتَّى إِذَا شَارَفَتْ انْقِضَاءَ عِدَّتِهَا رَاجَعَهَا ثُمَّ طَلَّقَهَا، ثُمَّ قَالَ: لاَ وَاللهِ لاَ آوِيكِ إِلَيَّ، وَلاَ تَحِلِّينَ أَبَداً. فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى {الطَّلَاقُ مَرَّتَانِ فَإِمْسَاكٌ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌ بِإِحْسَانٍ}، فَاسْتَقْبَلَ النَّاسُ الطَّلاَق جَدِيداً مِنْ يَوْمِئِذٍ، مَنْ كَانَ طَلَّقَ مِنْهُمْ أَوْ لَمْ يُطَلِّقْ ¬أخرجه مالك في الطلاق برقم: 80، والشافعي في المسند في الطلاق برقم: 109، والترمذي برقم: 1192، والبيهقي: 7/ 333 وقال: مرسل، قلت: وهو صحيح الإسناد مع إرساله، ويشهد له حديث عائشة وهو الحديث الذي قبله.¥.