O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period and keep count of the waiting period, and fear Allāh, your Lord. Do not turn them out of their [husbands'] houses, nor should they [themselves] leave [during that period] unless they are committing a clear immorality. And those are the limits [set by] Allāh. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allāh has certainly wronged himself. You know not; perhaps Allāh will bring about after that a [different] matter.
And when they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or part with them according to acceptable terms. And bring to witness two just men from among you and establish the testimony for [the acceptance of] Allāh. That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And whoever fears Allāh - He will make for him a way out
And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allāh - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allāh will accomplish His purpose. Allāh has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.
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wa-allāī ya-is'na mina l-maḥīḍi min nisāikum ini ir'tabtum faʿiddatuhunna thalāthatu ashhurin wa-allāī lam yaḥiḍ'na wa-ulātu l-aḥmāli ajaluhunna an yaḍaʿna ḥamlahunna waman yattaqi l-laha yajʿal lahu min amrihi yus'ran
And those who no longer expect menstruation among your women - if you doubt, then their period is three months, and [also for] those who have not menstruated. And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth. And whoever fears Allāh - He will make for him of his matter ease.
That is the command of Allāh, which He has sent down to you; and whoever fears Allāh - He will remove for him his misdeeds and make great for him his reward.
Lodge them [in a section] of where you dwell out of your means and do not harm them in order to oppress them. And if they should be pregnant, then spend on them until they give birth. And if they breastfeed for you, then give them their payment and confer among yourselves in the acceptable way; but if you are in discord, then there may breastfeed for him [i.e., the father] another woman.
Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted - let him spend from what Allāh has given him. Allāh does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it. Allāh will bring about, after hardship, ease [i.e., relief].
And how many a city was insolent toward the command of its Lord and His messengers, so We took it to severe account and punished it with a terrible punishment.
Allāh has prepared for them a severe punishment; so fear Allāh, O you of understanding who have believed. Allāh has sent down to you a message [i.e., the Qur’ān].
[He sent] a Messenger [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] reciting to you the distinct verses of Allāh that He may bring out those who believe and do righteous deeds from darknesses into the light. And whoever believes in Allāh and does righteousness - He will admit him into gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein forever. Allāh will have perfected for him a provision.
It is Allāh who has created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them. [His] command descends among them so you may know that Allāh is over all things competent and that Allāh has encompassed all things in knowledge.
O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period and keep count of the waiting period,1 and fear Allāh, your Lord. Do not turn them out of their [husbands'] houses, nor should they [themselves] leave [during that period] unless they are committing a clear immorality. And those are the limits [set by] Allāh. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allāh has certainly wronged himself. You know not; perhaps Allāh will bring about after that a [different] matter.2
This ayah lays down the ground rules for divorce in Islam, and it's surprisingly protective of women's rights. God is telling the Prophet — and by extension all believers — that if you're going to divorce, do it at the right time, meaning at the start of a woman's waiting period (iddah), not in the middle of menstruation or after intimacy. The woman gets to stay in her home during this waiting period — you can't just kick her out, and she shouldn't leave either, unless she's done something clearly wrong. There's real wisdom here — that cooling-off period gives both parties time to reconsider, to let emotions settle. And that last part is beautiful: "You never know, perhaps Allah will bring about after that a new matter" — meaning reconciliation might still happen. It's a reminder that even in the most painful moments of a relationship, God might have a plan you can't see yet.
And when they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or part with them according to acceptable terms. And bring to witness two just men from among you and establish the testimony for [the acceptance of] Allāh. That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And whoever fears Allāh - He will make for him a way out1
Once the waiting period is up, you've got two honorable choices — either take her back with genuine kindness, or let her go with grace and dignity. There's no room for spite or manipulation here. Notice how God emphasizes "with kindness" twice — this isn't a technicality, it's a moral standard. The requirement for two just witnesses keeps everything transparent and above board, protecting both parties from he-said-she-said disputes down the line. Then comes one of the most beloved promises in the Quran — whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for them. This has comforted countless people going through impossible situations, not just divorce but any hardship. It's God saying: if you do the right thing even when it's hard, I've got your back.
And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allāh - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allāh will accomplish His purpose. Allāh has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.
This ayah continues that incredible promise — God will provide from sources you never expected. Think about that for a second. When you're going through a divorce or any major life upheaval, everything feels like it's falling apart, and provision — whether financial, emotional, or spiritual — can come from the most unlikely places. The key condition is tawakkul, putting your genuine trust in Allah. That doesn't mean you sit around doing nothing — it means you do your part and then trust God with the outcome. "Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose" is both reassuring and humbling — His plan is going to unfold regardless, but when you align yourself with it through trust, you experience it as mercy rather than chaos. Everything in this universe operates on a measure God has set.
And those who no longer expect menstruation among your women - if you doubt, then their period is three months, and [also for] those who have not menstruated. And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth.1 And whoever fears Allāh - He will make for him of his matter ease.
Now we get into the practical details of waiting periods for specific situations. For women who have reached menopause and you're unsure about their waiting period, it's three months. Same goes for women who haven't begun menstruating yet — the standard three-month waiting period applies. For pregnant women, the waiting period lasts until they give birth, which makes complete sense because it establishes clarity about parentage and gives the mother time to recover. These aren't arbitrary rules — they address real biological and social realities that people face. And again, God ties it back to taqwa — whoever is mindful of Allah, He'll make their affairs easy. Even in the middle of legal details, the spiritual dimension is never far away.
That is the command of Allāh, which He has sent down to you; and whoever fears Allāh - He will remove for him his misdeeds and make great for him his reward.
This is God reminding everyone that these divorce regulations aren't human suggestions — they're divine commands sent down with purpose and authority. When you follow them out of genuine consciousness of God, two things happen: your sins get wiped away and your reward gets amplified. It's a powerful incentive structure — doing the right thing in a divorce, which is one of the hardest emotional experiences a person can go through, actually becomes a means of spiritual purification. Most people think of worship as prayer and fasting, but handling a painful separation with integrity and fairness is just as much an act of devotion in God's eyes.
Lodge them1 [in a section] of where you dwell out of your means and do not harm them in order to oppress them.2 And if they should be pregnant, then spend on them until they give birth. And if they breastfeed for you, then give them their payment and confer among yourselves in the acceptable way; but if you are in discord, then there may breastfeed for him [i.e., the father] another woman.3
Here God gets specific about housing and financial obligations during and after divorce. The ex-wife has a right to housing according to the husband's means — you provide what you can reasonably afford. And there's a sharp warning against using housing as a weapon — don't make conditions so miserable that she's forced to leave on her own. That's a form of abuse God explicitly condemns. If she's pregnant, you support her until delivery, and if she then nurses your child, she deserves fair compensation for that. The instruction to "consult among yourselves with kindness" is remarkable — even after a marriage ends, co-parenting requires mutual respect and communication. And if things really can't work out regarding nursing, another woman can be arranged. It's all about the child's wellbeing and the mother's dignity.
Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted - let him spend from what Allāh has given him. Allāh does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it. Allāh will bring about, after hardship, ease [i.e., relief].
This ayah brings a sense of balance and mercy to financial obligations after divorce. If you're wealthy, spend from your wealth — don't be stingy when it comes to supporting your former family. But if you're struggling financially, spend what you can from whatever God has given you. God doesn't burden anyone beyond their capacity, and that principle runs through all of Islamic law. The last line is one of those phrases that has carried people through centuries of hardship — "Allah will bring about ease after hardship." It's not a maybe, it's a divine promise. Whatever financial strain you're under right now, it's temporary. This gives real comfort to divorced men and women alike who are trying to rebuild their lives.
And how many a city was insolent toward the command of its Lord and His messengers, so We took it to severe account and punished it with a terrible punishment.
The surah takes a dramatic turn here — from divorce law to the fate of entire civilizations. How many towns defied the commands of their Lord and His messengers? God held them to a severe accounting and punished them terribly. This isn't a random tangent — it's making a profound point. If God doesn't let entire nations get away with defiance, what makes an individual think they can ignore His commands about something as serious as family law? The connection is intentional — the rules about divorce aren't minor suggestions, they're part of the same divine order that governs civilizations. Ignoring them has consequences, just on a different scale.
And it tasted the bad consequence of its affair [i.e., rebellion], and the outcome of its affair was loss.
Those rebellious towns tasted the bitter consequences of their choices, and their ultimate end was total loss. This is short and devastating — just two lines that summarize the downfall of arrogant civilizations. The word "tasted" is vivid and intentional — suffering isn't just observed from a distance, it's experienced intimately, like a bitter flavor you can't spit out. It's a sobering reminder that actions have consequences, whether for a nation that rejects its prophets or for an individual who tramples on the rights of their family members during a divorce.
Allāh has prepared for them a severe punishment; so fear Allāh, O you of understanding who have believed. Allāh has sent down to you a message [i.e., the Qur’ān].1
God has prepared severe punishment for those who persist in defiance, and then comes the direct address — so fear Allah, you people of understanding, you who believe. The phrase "people of understanding" is key — these warnings aren't for people who can't think critically, they're specifically for intelligent believers who should know better. God has sent down a clear message to you, and with that knowledge comes responsibility. You can't claim ignorance after revelation has reached you. This is the Quran essentially saying: you're smart enough to see the pattern of history, so be smart enough to learn from it.
[He sent] a Messenger [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] reciting to you the distinct verses of Allāh that He may bring out those who believe and do righteous deeds from darknesses into the light. And whoever believes in Allāh and does righteousness - He will admit him into gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein forever. Allāh will have perfected for him a provision.
That message God sent down? It came with a Messenger who recites clear verses to bring believers out of darkness into light. This is one of the Quran's most powerful metaphors — the human condition without guidance is described as layers of darkness, not just one, but multiple darknesses of ignorance, confusion, and spiritual blindness. Faith and righteous action together are the way into the light. And the reward is Gardens with rivers flowing beneath them, where believers live forever with the best provision from God. Notice how the surah started with the messy, painful reality of divorce and ends with eternal paradise — the journey from human struggle to divine reward is the whole arc of the believer's life.
It is Allāh who has created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them.1 [His] command descends among them so you may know that Allāh is over all things competent and that Allāh has encompassed all things in knowledge.
The surah closes with a verse of cosmic majesty — Allah created seven heavens and a similar arrangement of earths, and His command flows through all of them. Scholars have discussed for centuries what "the like of them" means regarding the earth — multiple layers, multiple worlds, multiple dimensions — but the core message is about the incomprehensible scale of God's creation and authority. Why end a surah about divorce with cosmology? Because it puts everything in perspective. The God who manages seven heavens and seven earths certainly has the wisdom to legislate about your marriage and divorce. His knowledge encompasses everything — your pain, your situation, your future — and His power is absolute over all things.