The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 377
PT. 2 AL-BAQARAH CH. 2 وَالَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنْكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ And those of you who died. 235 أَزْوَاجًا يَّتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنْفُسِهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةَ wives) shall wait concerning) ۚ and leave wives behind, these themselves four months and ten أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا days. And when they have جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا فَعَلْنَ فِي أَنْفُسِهِنَّ reached the end of their period, no sin shall lie on you in بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَاللهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ anything that they do with regard to themselves according to what is fair. And Allah is aware of what you do. 241 Commentary: "2:241. b2:229. If a woman is divorced while she is of pregnant, the question of the suckling of the child and the expense bringing it up naturally arises. The verse under comment supplies the answer. It points out that the suckling of the child should last for two years at the maximum. But it is allowable to discontinue it before the end of that period, if the father and the mother both agree on that course. The verse also implies that the child is not to be weaned before the end of two years without the consent of its mother. The expression is both in the active and the passive voice; the clause may therefore mean that: (1) the mother shall not make the father suffer on account of her child; and (2) the mother shall not be made to suffer on account of her child; and both meanings are equally good and equitable. The words (he to whom the child belongs) have been used here in preference to the 377 simpler word J, (father), in order to point to the inherent right of the father to possess the child and to his natural responsibility for its maintenance. The clause, and the same is incumbent on the heir, lays down an important social principle. If a father dies leaving behind a child, it is the duty of his heirs to bring up the child and maintain it until it reaches puberty. This shall not be considered an act of favour on their part, but an act of duty. One who inherits the property of a deceased person is duty bound to bring up the children the latter may leave behind. He who receives a support from another must be prepared to give the same to him, when he may stand in need of it. 241. Important Words: توفى who died is derived from) يتوفون which is derived from ¿, (wafā). They say, i. e. he fulfilled his promise; he was faithful in his word. ¿ (waffa) means, he gave him his right