2. Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ النَّسَاء فَبَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ سَرِّحُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ...

2: 231. When ye divorce women, and they fulfil the term of their ('Iddah), either take them back on equitable terms or set them free on equitable terms;

C261. If the man takes back his wife after two divorces, he must do so only on equitable terms, i.e., he must not put pressure on the woman to prejudice her rights in any way, and they must live clean and honourable lives, respecting each other's personalities. There are here two conditional clauses:

1. when ye divorce women, and

2. when they fulfil their Iddah: followed by two consequential clauses,

3. take them back on equitable terms, or

4. set them free with kindness.

The first is connected with the third and the second with the fourth. Therefore if the husband wishes to resume the marital relations, he need not wait for Iddah.

But if he does not so wish, she is free to marry someone else after Iddah. For the meaning of Iddah see n. 254 above.

... وَلاَ تُمْسِكُوهُنَّ ضِرَارًا لَّتَعْتَدُواْ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُ...

but do not take them back to injure them or to take undue advantage; if anyone does that, He wrongs his own soul.

C262. Let no one think that the liberty given to him can be used for his own selfish ends. If he uses the law for the injury of the weaker party, his own moral and spiritual nature suffers.

... وَلاَ تَتَّخِذُوَاْ آيَاتِ اللّهِ هُزُوًا...

Do not treat Allah's Signs as a jest,

C263. These difficult questions of sex relations are often treated as a joke. But they profoundly affect our individual lives, the lives of our children, and the purity and well-being of the society in which we live.

This aspect of the question is reiterated again and again.

... ... وَاذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَتَ اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَا أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ يَعِظُكُم بِهِ...

but solemnly rehearse Allah's favors on you, and the fact that He sent down to you the Book and Wisdom, for your instruction.

C264. Rehearse: zikr. Cf. 2:152 and n. 156.

We are asked to remember in our own minds, and to proclaim and praise, and be proud of Allah's favours on us.

His favours are immeasurable; not the least are His Revelations, and the wisdom which He has given to us to enable us to judge and act up to His guidance.

... وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٣١﴾

And fear Allah, and know that Allah is well acquainted with all things.

Pickthall’s Version:

2: 231

Pickthall When ye have divorced women, and they have reached their term, then retain them in kindness or release them in kindness. Retain them not to their hurt so that ye transgress (the limits). He who doeth that hath wronged his soul. Make not the revelations of Allah a laughingstock (by your behavior), but remember Allah's grace upon you and that which He hath revealed unto you of the Scripture and of wisdom, whereby He doth exhort you. Observe your duty to Allah and know that Allah is Aware of all things.

Transliteration Wa iza_ tallaqtumun nisa_'afa balagna ajalahunna fa amsiku_hunna bi ma'ru_fin au sarrihu_hunna bi ma'ru_f(in), wa la_ tumsiku_hunna dira_ral li ta'tadu_, wa may yaf'al za_lika fa qad zalama nafsah(u_), wa la_ tattakhizu_ a_ya_tilla_hi huzuwa_w wazkuru_ ni'matalla_hi 'alaikum wa ma_ anzala 'alaikum minal kita_bi wal hikmati ya'izukum bih(i), wattaqulla_ha wa'lamu_ annalla_ha bi kulli syai'in'alim(un).