The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 366
CH. 2 AL-BAQARAH PT. 2 وَاِنْ عَزَمُوا الطَّلَاقَ فَاِنَّ اللهَ And if they decide upon. 228 سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ وَالْمُطَلَّقْتُ يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنْفُسِهِنَّ ثَلَثَةَ "divorce, then surely, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. 23 229. And the divorced women shall wait concerning قُرُوءٍ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَهُنَّ أَنْ يَكْتُمْنَ مَا ;themselves for three courses "2:230; 33:50; 65:2, 3. b2:235; 65:5. They say abi. e. the she-camel became loosened and free from the طلقت المرأة من زوجها of | rope which tied her means, the woman left her husband and severed her connection with him. divorced his wife. therefore, means, breaking of the tie of marriage; divorce (Aqrab). the succeeding verses, it speaks of real though revocable divorce. And finally (2:231) it speaks irrevocable divorce. A really wonderful order designed to put as many obstacles as possible in the way means, the husband of divorce which Islam recognizes and retains as a sort of necessary evil. As clearly stated in the verse under comment, Islam allows four months at the most to a person who swears not to approach his wife. During this period, he must either get reconciled to his wife and restore conjugal relations, or separation will be effected between the two. Islam would in no case permit indefinite separation without divorce, leaving the woman "suspended" as it were. The words if they go back from the vow, surely Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful indicate that swearing is abstinence from one's wife reprehensible in the sight of God Who loves to see reconciliation between husband and wife. The verse thus abolishes the custom of which was prevalent among the Arabs before the advent of Islam and by which it was sought to deprive women of their conjugal rights for long and indefinite periods. 234. Important Words: means, he عزم (they decide) عزموا made up his mind; he decided; he was determined to do a thing (Aqrab). Commentary: If, after vowing abstinence from his wife, as stated in the preceding verse, the husband decides on divorce, he is free to take that course. But the words, Allah is All-Hearing All- Knowing, warn him that if he is thereby acting unjustly to his wife, he should not think that he can so act with impunity, for Allah is there to hear the supplications of the wife; and even if she does not or cannot pray to God, Allah knows everything. With this verse begins a discussion of the Islamic law of divorce. According to this law, the husband possesses the right to divorce his wife, when legitimate necessity arises. But this right is to be exercised only on rare occasions and in (divorce) is derived from ☑b. exceptional circumstances. 366