2. Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لاَّ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن طَلَّقْتُمُ النِّسَاء مَا لَمْ تَمَسُّوهُنُّ أَوْ تَفْرِضُواْ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً...

2: 236. There is no blame on you if ye divorce women before consummation or the fixation of their dower;

... وَمَتِّعُوهُنَّ ...

but bestow on them (a suitable gift),

... عَلَى الْمُوسِعِ قَدَرُهُ وَعَلَى الْمُقْتِرِ قَدْرُهُ ...

the wealthy according to his means, and the poor according to his means;

... مَتَاعًا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ حَقًّا عَلَى الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٢٣٦﴾

a gift of a reasonable amount is due from those who wish to do the right thing.

وَإِن طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ وَقَدْ فَرَضْتُمْ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً ...

2: 237. And if ye divorce them before consummation, but after the fixation of a dower for them,

... فَنِصْفُ مَا فَرَضْتُمْ إَلاَّ أَن يَعْفُونَ أَوْ يَعْفُوَ ...

then the half of the dower (is due to them), unless they remit it. Or (the man's half) is remitted

C269. The law declares that in such a case half the dower fixed shall be paid by the man to the woman.

But it is open to the woman to remit the half due to her or to the man to remit the half which he is entitled to deduct, and thus pay the whole.

... الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ عُقْدَةُ النِّكَاحِ...

by him in whose hands is the marriage tie;

C270. Him in whose hands is the marriage tie: According to Hanafi doctrine this is the husband himself, who can ordinarily by his act dissolve the marriage. It therefore behoves him to be all the more liberal to the woman and pay her the full dower even if the marriage was not consummated.

... وَأَن تَعْفُواْ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَلاَ تَنسَوُاْ الْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ ...

and the remission (of the man's half) is the nearest to righteousness. And do not forget liberality between yourselves.

... إِنَّ اللّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿٢٣٧﴾

For Allah sees well all that ye do.

Other versions:

2: 236

Asad a provision in an equitable manner: this is a duty upon all who would do good.

Yusuf Ali There is no blame on you if ye divorce women before consummation or the fixation of their dower; but bestow on them (a suitable gift) the wealthy according to his means and the poor according to his means; a gift of a reasonable amount is due from those who wish to do the right thing.

Pickthall It is no sin for you if ye divorce women while yet ye have not touched them, nor appointed unto them a portion. Provide for them, the rich according to his means, and the straitened according to his means, a fair provision. (This is) a bounden duty for those who do good.

Transliteration La_ juna_ha 'alaikum in tallaqtumun nisa_'a ma_ lam tamassu_hunna au tafridu_ lahunna faridah(tan), wa matti'u_hunna 'alal mu_si'i qadaruhu_ wa 'alal muqtiri qadaruh(u_), mata_'am bil ma'ru_f(i), haqqan 'alal muhsinin(a).

2: 237 …………….and to forgo what is due to you is more in accord with God- consciousness. And forget not [that you are to act with] grace towards one another: verily, God sees all that you do.

Yusuf Ali And if ye divorce them before consummation but after the fixation of a dower for them then the half of the dower (is due to them) unless they remit it. Or (the man's half) is remitted by him in whose hands is the marriage tie; and the remission (of the man's half) is the nearest to righteousness. And do not forget liberality between yourselves. For Allah sees well all that ye do.

Pickthall If ye divorce them before ye have touched them and ye have appointed unto them a portion, then (pay the) half of that which ye appointed, unless they (the women) agree to forgo it, or he agreeth to forgo it in whose hand is the marriage tie. To forgo is nearer to piety. And forget not kindness among yourselves. Allah is Seer of what ye do.

Transliteration Wa in tallaqtumu_hunna min qabli an tamassu_hunna wa qad faradtum lahunna faridatan fa nisfu ma_ faradtum illa_ ay ya'fu_na auya'fual lazi bi yadihi'uqdatun nika_h(i), wa an ta'fu_ aqrabu lit taqwa_, wala_ tansaul fadla bainakum, innalla_ha bima_ ta'malu_na basir(un).

[ Ali’s notes - 269 The law declares that in such a case half the dower fixed shall be paid by the man to the woman. But it is open to the woman to remit the half due to her or to the man to remit the half which he is entitled to deduct, and thus pay the whole. (2.237)

270 Him in whose hands is the marriage tie: According to Hanafi doctrine this is the husband himself, who can ordinarily by his act dissolve the marriage. It therefore behooves him to be all the more liberal to the woman and pay her the full dower even if the marriage was not consummated. (2.237) ]