2-232 And when you divorce women and they end their term, prevent them not from marrying their husbands if they agree among themselves in a lawful manner. With this is admonished he among you who believes in Allah and the Last Day. This is more profitable for you and purer. And Allah knows while you know not.
وَإِذَا طَلَّقۡتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَبَلَغۡنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا تَعۡضُلُوهُنَّ أَن يَنكِحۡنَ أَزۡوَٲجَهُنَّ إِذَا تَرَٲضَوۡاْ بَيۡنَہُم بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۗ ذَٲلِكَ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ مِنكُمۡ يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِۗ ذَٲلِكُمۡ أَزۡكَىٰ لَكُمۡ وَأَطۡهَرُۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ (٢٣٢)
2-232a تَعۡضُلُوهُنَّ –The real meaning of عضل is to tie something to عَضَلَة (the hard meat in the muscle), and hence the word is also used to strictly forbid the doing of a thing (R).
أَزۡكَىٰ – أَطۡهَر – The idea of blessing and growth preponderates in ذکا and the meaning of طھر is to be free of filth and other things that are detrimental to growth. See 43a and 222a.
Remarriage of a man and a woman following the waiting period of divorce is permissible: Just as reconciliation within the waiting period is allowed, remarriage between a husband and wife after the waiting period is also allowed. This meaning is narrated by Ibn Abbas who said that this verse was revealed for a person who has divorced his wife once or twice and wants to remarry her after the waiting period is over. A hadith is narrated in Bukhari about the case of Maqil bin Yasar which also substantiates this meaning. His sister was divorced by her husband. After the waiting period was over, her former husband expressed his desire to marry her. Initially Maqil refused, but then this verse was revealed, and he allowed his sister to remarry her former husband. She too was willing to remarry.
Illegality of three divorces pronounced at one time: It is obvious from this verse that pronouncing three divorces together is illegal because this verse allows the divorcees to remarry but this is not allowed after the third divorce. The reason given for allowing remarriage is that this is زۡكَىٰ and أَطۡهَر and this is obvious because not having this provision would mean resorting to the shameful practice of halalah.
2-233 And mothers shall suckle their children for two whole years, for him who desires to complete the time of suckling. And their maintenance and their clothing must be borne by the father according to usage. No soul shall be burdened beyond its capacity. Neither shall a mother be made to suffer harm on account of her child, nor a father on account of his child; and a similar duty (devolves) on the (father’s) heir. But if both desire weaning by mutual consent and counsel, there is no blame on them.a And if you wish to engage a wet-nurse for your children, there is no blame on you so long as you pay what you promised according to usage. And keep your duty to Allah and know that Allah is Seer of what you do.b
وَٱلۡوَٲلِدَٲتُ يُرۡضِعۡنَ أَوۡلَـٰدَهُنَّ حَوۡلَيۡنِ كَامِلَيۡنِۖ لِمَنۡ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ ٱلرَّضَاعَةَۚ وَعَلَى ٱلۡمَوۡلُودِ لَهُ ۥ رِزۡقُهُنَّ وَكِسۡوَتُہُنَّ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفۡسٌ إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ لَا تُضَآرَّ وَٲلِدَةُۢ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوۡلُودٌ۬ لَّهُ ۥ بِوَلَدِهِۦۚ وَعَلَى ٱلۡوَارِثِ مِثۡلُ ذَٲلِكَۗ فَإِنۡ أَرَادَا فِصَالاً عَن تَرَاضٍ۬ مِّنۡہُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍ۬ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡہِمَاۗ وَإِنۡ أَرَدتُّمۡ أَن تَسۡتَرۡضِعُوٓاْ أَوۡلَـٰدَكُمۡ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذَا سَلَّمۡتُم مَّآ ءَاتَيۡتُم بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۗ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ۬ (٢٣٣)
2-233a: يُرۡضِعۡنَ – تسترضعوا – اَرۡضَع means suckled, and استرضع means employed a wet-nurse.
تُضَآرَّ – Although the case here is interactive (باب مفاعلہ) but sometimes only one is meant. So, its meaning is to cause injury.
وَعَلَى ٱلۡوَارِثِ – is a conjunction that joins it with وَعَلَى ٱلۡمَوۡلُودِ لَهُ , and by وَارِثِ is meant the heir of the father. So, if the father dies, then the responsibility of providing food and clothing delves on his heir.
فِصَالاً – فصل is to separate one thing from another, and فِصَال is to wean a child.
تَشَاوُرٍ – is from شِرۡت الۡعَسۡلَ which means I took out the honey, and مَشۡوَرة is to arrive at an opinion after back and forth discussion (R).
How long is a baby to be nursed: In a discussion of the issues arising from divorce, a question that arises is about nursing the child. But the matter is explained generically although giving food and clothing for nursing the child, clearly shows that the narration really is about divorced women. The period for nursing is stated to be two years. However, this is not an injunction that the baby should be nursed for two years because in this very verse it is stated that if both desire, the baby can be weaned earlier. As Mujahid narrates, two years is the maximum period for nursing, and incidentally it is also indicated that nursing a baby that is more than two years does not create a prohibited relationship.
In another place in the Quran, it is stated: وَحَمۡلُهُ ۥ وَفِصَـٰلُهُ ۥ ثَلَـٰثُونَ شَہۡرًاۚ (And the bearing of him and the weaning of him is thirty months) (46:15). There is no contradiction, however, because here both the burden of bearing the baby and the duration of breastfeeding are mentioned together as thirty months as the minimum gestation period is six months, and also because the verse mentions the burden of the mother and it is only in the fourth month of pregnancy that the weight of carrying the child becomes burdensome. In this way, the burden of carrying the child and breastfeeding him comes to thirty months.
2-233b: سَلَّمۡتُم The root of تسۡلِیم like that of اسلام is سَلۡم and سلامة is to be protected from manifest and hidden calamities (R). And the meaning of سَلَّمَ is protected him (T) as in: وَلَـٰڪِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَلَّمَ (but Allah saved (you)) (8:43). The meaning of سلمته الیه is I gave it to him (T) and that is the meaning of سَلَّمۡتُم here. تَسۡلِیم also means being satisfied with the will and decree of Allah and is also used to denote full obedience of an order without any objection (T) as in ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُواْ فِىٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ حَرَجً۬ا مِّمَّا قَضَيۡتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمً۬ا (…then find not any straitness in their hearts as to that which thou decidest, and submit with full submission) (4:65). تسۡلِیم is also spoken of greeting someone with سلام and this is a prayer that a person may stay protected in his faith and in his person (T), as in: فَإِذَا دَخَلۡتُم بُيُوتً۬ا فَسَلِّمُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ (So when you enter houses, greet your people with a salutation) (24:61).
اتَيۡتُم – The real meaning of ایتاء is to give. By مَّآ ءَاتَيۡتُم is meant the dowry of the woman whether it is paid or yet to be paid. See229a. The purport here is that the keeping of a wet nurse does not in any way diminishes the right of the divorced woman, and that no part of her dowry is to be taken back.
2-234 And (as for) those of you who die and leave wives behind, such women should keep themselves in waiting for four months and ten days; when they reach their term, there is no blame on you for what they do for themselves in a lawful manner. And Allah is Aware of what you do.a
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوۡنَ مِنكُمۡ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزۡوَٲجً۬ا يَتَرَبَّصۡنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ أَرۡبَعَةَ أَشۡہُرٍ۬ وَعَشۡرً۬اۖ فَإِذَا بَلَغۡنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فِيمَا فَعَلۡنَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِنَّ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ۬ (٢٣٤)
234a: يُتَوَفَّوۡنَ – Its root is فی which means بلوغ التمام (R) that is to reach one’s utmost limit. The meaning of وفی العھد and اوفٰع is, he fulfilled the covenant, and the meaning of توفیة is to give full measure, while the meaning of استیفا is to take fully (R). Accordingly, the meaning of وفی (which is from توفیة , that is from باب تفعیل ) is paid in full as in وُفِّيَتۡ ڪُلُّ نَفۡسٍ۬ مَّا ڪَسَبَتۡ (And every soul will be fully paid) (3:25) تُوَفَّوۡنَ أُجُورَڪُمۡ (paid your reward fully) (3:185), تُوَفَّىٰ ڪُلُّ نَفۡسٍ۬ (every soul be paid back fully (3:161), while the meaning of توفّی from (باب تفعّل) is وقد عُبِّر عن الموت و النوم بالتَّوَفِّی (R), that is death and sleep, and the common element in death and sleep is the taking away of the soul. So, this is the meaning of توفّی and there is consensus among the linguists that the meaning of توفاہ اللّٰه is the taking away of the soul and none other.
يَذَرُونَ – Its root is ذر . It is not used in the past tense but only in the aorist tense and imperative mood. Its infinitive mood is also not used but instead the word ترک is used which has a similar meaning, that is, to leave.
Some issues regarding divorce are yet to be discussed, but in between a discussion of widows is introduced to maintain a connection. More discussion regarding widows comes later.
The waiting period before remarriage for widows is three months and ten days, but if they are pregnant then the waiting period is till the birth of the baby as stated later in Surah Talaq (65:4) regardless of whether it is more or less than the period specified here. The meaning of “what they do with themselves in a lawful manner” means remarriage, or to dress up for the purpose of getting married.
Remarriage of widows called a lawful affair: Remarriage of widows is here called lawful. Those Muslims who consider the remarriage of widows as a shameful, act against the direct injunction of Quran. By attributing the action to the widow in فِيمَا فَعَلۡنَ the purpose appears to be that they can act on their own in the matter of their remarriage.
2-235 And there is no blame on you respecting that which you speak indirectly in the asking of (such) women in marriage or keep (the proposal) concealed within your minds. Allah knows that you will have them in your minds, but give them not a promise in secret unless you speak in a lawful manner. And confirm not the marriage tie until the prescribed period reaches its end. And know that Allah knows what is in your minds, so beware of Him; and know that Allah is Forgiving, Forbearing.a
وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فِيمَا عَرَّضۡتُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ خِطۡبَةِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ أَوۡ أَڪۡنَنتُمۡ فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡۚ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمۡ سَتَذۡكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ سِرًّا إِلَّآ أَن تَقُولُواْ قَوۡلاً۬ مَّعۡرُوفً۬اۚ وَلَا تَعۡزِمُواْ عُقۡدَةَ ٱلنِّڪَاحِ حَتَّىٰ يَبۡلُغَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبُ أَجَلَهُ ۥۚ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعۡلَمُ مَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ فَٱحۡذَرُوهُۚ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ۬ (٢٣٥)
235a: عَرَّضۡتُم – is derived from عرض. تعریض is use of language that has a double meaning such that it could be true but could also be false, or could be manifest or hidden. The meaning here is that marriage should not be proposed formally, but there is no harm if a hint is dropped, for instance by saying you are beautiful or you are desirable. This injunction is only for the waiting period.
خِطۡبَةِ – خَطۡب is said of repetition in speech, and خُطبة is speech which has sermonizing, and خِطبة is a proposal of marriage to a woman (R).
أَڪۡنَنتُمۡ – کِنّ is that in which something is protected, and its plural is اکنان , as in وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡجِبَالِ أَڪۡنَـٰنً۬ا (…and He has given you in mountains places of retreat) (16:81). And the کَنَنۡت means to کِنّ or protect something, as in: لُؤۡلُؤٌ۬ مَّكۡنُونٌ۬ (hidden pearls) (52:24), بَيۡضٌ۬ مَّكۡنُونٌ۬ (eggs, carefully protected) (37:49), كِتَـٰبٍ۬ مَّكۡنُونٍ۬ (a book that is protected) (56:78). کَنَنۡت is specific to keeping something in one’s heart. In جَعَلۡنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِہِمۡ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفۡقَهُوهُ (We have cast veils over their hearts) (6:25) (17:46) (18:57) and قُلُوبُنَا فِىٓ أَڪِنَّةٍ۬ (Our hearts are under coverings) (41:5) , أَكِنَّةً is plural of کنان and it is that covering in which something is hidden (R).
سَتَذۡكُرُونَهُنَّ – One of the meanings ofذکر is to have a thought in one’s heart (R).
كِتَـٰبُ – It is used here to mean ما کُتِبَ and the meaning of کُتِبَ is فُرِض because one meaning of کُتِبَ is to make something obligatory, and the purport is the waiting period which is obligatory.
Bayan-ul-Quran 