Surah Talaq

Surah Talaq (سورة الطلاق) or Nisaʾ al-Quṣrā (نساء القصری) is the 65^th chapter located in juz 28 of the Quran. The first seven verses of the chapter discuss the topic of divorce and its related rules and issues and this is why the chapter has been named Talaq (divorce). The second part of the chapter talks about the fate of two groups of people. The first group is one that rebels against God’s commands and will be severely punished; the second group is one that is eligible for special divine guidance and heavenly blessings due to their good deeds and following the prophets. ¹

Facts about Surah Talaq

Arabic Text and Translation of Surah Talaq

Benefits of Reciting Surah Talaq

It has been narrated from Jaʿfar b. Muhammad al-Sadiq (peace be on him) that:

• Whoever recites surah Talaq and Tahrim (التحریم) in their obligatory prayers, Allah will give them refuge from fear on the Day of Qiyamah.
• They will be spared from going to hell, and in return for reciting these two chapters and acting upon them, He will make them enter heaven as they are looking at the Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his household). ²

Some other benefits of surah Talaq:

• Reciting it 21 times to make another person love you (i.e. for taḥbīb [تَحبيب]).
• Reciting it three times for expansion of provision.
• Reciting it for being cured of illness and settlement of debts.

Surah Talaq [65: 1-7]

As mentioned above, the first seven verses of this chapter discuss the issue of divorce and some of the rules that pertain to it. Therefore, we will first be discussing these verses below.

The Waiting Period After Divorce in Surah Talaq

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا الْعِدَّةَ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ رَبَّكُمْ ۖ لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِن بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّا أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَاحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّـهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ اللَّـهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُ ۚ لَا تَدْرِي لَعَلَّ اللَّـهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًا ﴿1﴾

O Prophet! When you divorce women, divorce them at [the conclusion of] their term and calculate the term, and be wary of Allah, your Lord. Do not turn them out from their homes, nor shall they go out, unless they commit a gross indecency. These are Allah’s bounds, and whoever transgresses the bounds of Allah certainly wrongs himself. You never know maybe Allah will bring off something new later on.

The verse addresses the Holy Prophet Muhammad as he is the one sent to the nation and is their leader. Therefore, the matters that are, in fact, addressed to the whole nation can be addressed to him, even though they are for them.

ʿIdda (عدة) refers to the waiting period that a woman must observe before she can marry again. The time period is for a woman to have gone through and finished three monthly cycles.

Despite the divorce, men are responsible for taking care of their ex-wives in this waiting period. They must provide their lodging and everyday expenses and cannot turn them out of the house.

Similarly, men have some rights too, one of which is that he has the right to return to their wives (depending on the type of divorce they had) without the need to do the nikah (words spoken to make someone a wife or husband of another) and they can continue their married life together. ³

One Must Strive for Their Sustenance According to Surah Talaq

فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَأَشْهِدُوا ذَوَيْ عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ لِلَّـهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّـهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا ﴿2﴾

Then, when they have completed their term, either retain them honourably or separate from them honourably, and take the witness of two honest men from among yourselves, and bear witness for the sake of Allah. Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day is advised to [comply with] this. Whoever is wary of Allah, He shall make for him a way out [of the adversities of the world and the Hereafter]

وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّـهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّـهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا ﴿3﴾

And provide for him from whence he does not count upon. And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He will suffice him. Indeed Allah carries through His commands. Certainly, Allah has ordained a measure [and extent] for everything.

Balaghna Ajalahunn (بلغن أجلهنّ), contrary to the translation, does not refer to the end of the waiting period; rather, it refers to nearing its end since if it ends, it is prohibited to maintain one’s wife.

The word maʿrūf (معروف), which means favorable and honorable, has been used 38 times in the Quran, fifteen of which have been regarding the family and spousal relationship, that is, a husband and wife must behave in a favorable and worthy manner with each other. ⁴

Narrations About [65: 2-3] of Surah Talaq

The Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his household) is reported to have said that I do not know of [any other] verse which if the people acted on, all their problems would be resolved. He then recited the verse:

Whoever is wary of Allah, He shall make for him a way out [of the adversities of the world and the Hereafter]

It has also been narrated that when verse three was revealed, some of the companions of the Prophet abandoned their work and trade and said that God has guaranteed our sustenance and, therefore, there is no need to work or toil (to earn it). The Prophet, however, called and admonished them and said that whoever abandons work and effort, his prayers will not be answered.

The effect of Godwariness is not only something that one will observe in the Hereafter; rather, according to a narration regarding from whence he does not count upon, it refers to sustenance for the pious in the world. ⁵

Entrusting Our Affairs to God

According to these verses, piety precedes tawakkul (توکّل), which means to entrust one’s affairs to God. However, entrusting our affairs to God and God’s power does not mean that we will achieve all that we desire because everything in the universe is based on laws and is methodical. ⁶

Ease in One’s Affairs

وَاللَّائِي يَئِسْنَ مِنَ الْمَحِيضِ مِن نِّسَائِكُمْ إِنِ ارْتَبْتُمْ فَعِدَّتُهُنَّ ثَلَاثَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَاللَّائِي لَمْ يَحِضْنَ ۚ وَأُولَاتُ الْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ يُسْرًا ﴿4﴾

As for those of your wives who have ceased having menses—[or] if you have any doubts [concerning its cause, whether it’s is age or something else]—their term [of waiting] and of those who have not yet had menses, shall be three months. As for those who are pregnant, their term shall be until they deliver. And whoever is wary of Allah, He shall grant him ease in his affairs.

The verse continues with the rulings of divorce and states that women who do not have monthly cycles for whatever reason, be it age or illness, must wait 3 months to get remarried while expecting women must wait till they have delivered.

There are many phrases that have been used for the pious in the Quran. For example, the following:

He will grant you … a light to walk by ⁷

He shall appoint a criterion for you ⁸

He shall make for him a way out [of the adversities of the world and the Hereafter] ⁹

And, also the last part of verse four of surah Talaq: He shall grant him ease in his affairs might be indicative of a natural course because first a light is manifested for the pious person; through that light, he finds the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood, that is, the furqān (criterion). Once he is able to distinguish truth from falsehood, he will find the path out of all problems, and under that same light, he will escape from many difficulties with ease. ¹⁰

Emotion and Intellect According to Surah Talaq

ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرُ اللَّـهِ أَنزَلَهُ إِلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّـهَ يُكَفِّرْ عَنْهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِ وَيُعْظِمْ لَهُ أَجْرًا ﴿5﴾

That is Allah’s ordinance, which He has sent down to you, and whoever is wary of Allah, He shall absolve him of his misdeeds and give him a great reward.

أَسْكِنُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ سَكَنتُم مِّن وُجْدِكُمْ وَلَا تُضَارُّوهُنَّ لِتُضَيِّقُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن كُنَّ أُولَاتِ حَمْلٍ فَأَنفِقُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ ۚ فَإِنْ أَرْضَعْنَ لَكُمْ فَآتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ ۖ وَأْتَمِرُوا بَيْنَكُم بِمَعْرُوفٍ ۖ وَإِن تَعَاسَرْتُمْ فَسَتُرْضِعُ لَهُ أُخْرَىٰ ﴿6﴾

House them where you live, in accordance with your means, and do not harass them to put them in straits, and should they be pregnant, maintain them until they deliver. Then, if they suckle [the baby] for you, give them their wages and consult together honourably. But if you make things difficult for each other, then another woman will suckle [the baby] for him.

As indicated in the first of these two verses, Godwariness not only atones for the past but also provides for the future.

Perhaps one of the reasons that the residence of the man and woman is the same during the waiting period is to provide the opportunity for peace and return to one another. Besides, turning a woman out of the house or finding her a separate place to live is a kind of insult to the woman. Similarly, there is more place for intellect, emotion, thinking, and counsel in gradual separation than there is in an instant one and this might help the couple make up and get back together.

There are five commands given in the second of these verses and all of them are intellectual and emotional commands which prepare the groundwork for a return to marital life. ¹¹

Charity to the Extent of One’s Ability Based on Surah Talaq

لِيُنفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍ مِّن سَعَتِهِ ۖ وَمَن قُدِرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُ فَلْيُنفِقْ مِمَّا آتَاهُ اللَّـهُ ۚ لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَا آتَاهَا ۚ سَيَجْعَلُ اللَّـهُ بَعْدَ عُسْرٍ يُسْرًا ﴿7﴾

Let the affluent man spend out of his affluence, and let he whose provision has been tightened spend out of what Allah has given him. Allah does not task any soul except [according to] what He has given it. Allah will bring about ease after hardship.

Does this charity include women who take on the responsibility of breastfeeding their child after separation, those who are in their waiting period, or both?

The last option is the most suitable. Those who have sufficient ability to be generous should not be stingy in this regard and those who do not possess the financial ability are not commanded to that which is not in their power and their ex-wives cannot fault them for it.

So that the believers do not leave the path of truth and justice due to financial difficulties, the verse ends with:

Allah will bring about ease after hardship.

The verse is asking them not to be grieved by this as these states of the world are transient and should not cause them to lose their patience. This phrase is an eternal hope and good news of the future; especially for the time the verse was revealed when the Muslims were under a lot of financial pressure and strain. ¹²

Surah Talaq [65: 8-12]

This next part of the chapter discusses the fate of two groups of people which we will delve into below.

Rebelling Against God and His Messenger

وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ عَتَتْ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهَا وَرُسُلِهِ فَحَاسَبْنَاهَا حِسَابًا شَدِيدًا وَعَذَّبْنَاهَا عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا ﴿8﴾

How many a town defied the command of its Lord and His apostles, then We called it to a severe account and punished it with a dire punishment.

The first part of the verse is talking about the inhabitants of a town who were infidels and polytheists in regard to God and also disbelieved in the prophets. They denied their claims, disobeyed God’s commands, and denied the mastership and guardianship, or wilāyah (ولایة) of the prophets.

The next part of the verse informs us of the severe accounting that they will face, which is not in the Hereafter. Rather, this verse discusses the accounting they will face in this world.

Therefore, the calamities that people face – albeit the calamities that religion considers to be calamities – are the result of the accounting of human beings’ own deeds. While God forgives many actions and overlooks them, He is very severe in regard to the arrogant, those who find it shameful to obey and follow the commands of God and His prophets. As a result, they would face an unprecedented and unfamiliar punishment. ¹³

The Outcome of Arrogance

فَذَاقَتْ وَبَالَ أَمْرِهَا وَكَانَ عَاقِبَةُ أَمْرِهَا خُسْرًا ﴿9﴾

So it tasted the evil consequences of its conduct, and the outcome of its conduct was ruin.

The verse explains that the arrogant are facing the weight or constrictions of their own actions, in this case, their arrogance. They received the outcome of their arrogance which is loss. Therefore, in reality, they sold their obedience and bought arrogance instead. The return of this transaction is nothing but loss. ¹⁴

Punishment in the Hereafter according to Surah Talaq

أَعَدَّ اللَّـهُ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۚ قَدْ أَنزَلَ اللَّـهُ إِلَيْكُمْ ذِكْرًا ﴿10﴾

Allah has prepared for them a severe punishment. So be wary of Allah, O you who possess intellect and have faith! Allah has already sent down to you a reminder,

This verse is now talking of the punishment in the Hereafter. The verse then branches out and explains that if one uses their intellect they would not violate the commands of God.

God has sent for us the dhikr (ذکر) to remind us of the truth and falsehood and profit and loss. The next verse indicates that this dhikr refers to the Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his household). ¹⁵

The Holy Prophet in Surah Talaq

رَّسُولًا يَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّـهِ مُبَيِّنَاتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّـهِ وَيَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۖ قَدْ أَحْسَنَ اللَّـهُ لَهُ رِزْقًا ﴿11﴾

An apostle reciting to you the manifest signs of Allah that He may bring out those who have faith and do righteous deeds from darkness into light. And whoever has faith in Allah and does righteous deeds, He shall admit him into gardens with streams running in them, to remain in them forever. Allah has certainly granted him an excellent provision.

The reason the Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his household) has been referred to as dhikr (reminder, warning) is that he is the means of reminder and reminds us of God, His signs, and the path of invitation toward the true religion.

The verse gives good tidings and the beautiful promise of heaven to those who believe in God and perform good deeds. The sustenance or provision that God has bestowed upon them refers to belief and faith as well as the grace of being able to perform good deeds and the heaven that He will bless them with in the Hereafter. ¹⁶

God is Powerful and Knowledgeable

اللَّـهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ وَمِنَ الْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ الْأَمْرُ بَيْنَهُنَّ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّـهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا ﴿12﴾

It is Allah who has created seven heavens, and of the earth [a number] similar to them. The command gradually descends through them, that you may know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah comprehends all things in knowledge.

The similarity between the heavens and the earth is their similarity in number, that is, just as there are seven heavens or skies, there are seven earths as well. What does this mean? One of the possibilities in this regard is that it means the earth has 7 layers, the highest of which is the surface on which we live.

The skies or heavens have an active state while the earth has a passive one and it is due to this interactive relationship that God’s will in creating that which was and will come is actualized.

We understand two things from the first part of the verse, as indicated in the last part:

• God is capable of any and everything as He created the universe.
• He has knowledge of everything as creation and management is not possible without knowledge.

Therefore, we must be Godwary and fear Him. This verse emphasizes the previous content and argues in their favor, that is, all that has been said is from and made by God, the powerful and knowledgeable. ¹⁷

Summary of Surah Talaq

Surah Talaq or Nisaʾ al-Quṣrā is divided into two main parts, the first of which discusses the issue of divorce and some of its rules like the waiting period and what the responsibilities of a husband are toward the wife he has divorced and until when he needs to provide for her. It also indicates the responsibilities of the wife in waiting for a certain time before she is able to remarry.

The second part of the chapter discusses two groups of people: the arrogant infidels and polytheists and those who have faith and the fate that awaits both of these groups.