The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 380
CH. 2 R. 31. AL-BAQARAH PT. 2 لَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ اِنْ طَلَّقْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ مَا It shall be no sin for you if. 237 you divorce women while you have not touched them, nor settled for them a dowry. But provide for them—the rich man لَمْ تَمَسُّوهُنَّ أَوْ تَفْرِضُوا لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً وَمَتِّعُوهُنَّ عَلَى الْمُوْسِعِ قَدَرُهُ وَعَلَى الْمُقْتِرِ قَدَرُهُ مَتَاعًا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ حَقًّا according to his means and the عَلَى الْمُحْسِنِينَ poor man according to his means a provision in a becoming manner, an obligation upon the virtuous. 243 weaknesses, He has been lenient in this respect. So whatever commandment has now been given, must be faithfully followed and all lapse be honestly guarded against. 243. Important Words: from (provide for them) is derived (mata‘a). They sayi. e. ,means متع الرجل the thing became tall به therefore, one who is poor, one who is in straitened circumstances (Aqrab). Commentary: Circumstances might arise when a husband may consider it necessary or desirable to divorce his wife before they have had conjugal relations, i. e. before the man has gone in unto his wife and even before any (dowry) the man became well off. (matta a) means, God granted him has been decided upon by the parties. life and the necessaries thereof. al means, he provided his divorced wife with necessaries of life. or means, he profited by it for some length of time; he was afforded an opportunity to enjoy it. E means, things that are necessary for life without affording opulence; things useful and necessary such as food, clothing, household utensils, furniture, etc. (Aqrab & Lane). (the poor man) is derived from ie he was. قت على عياله They say. قتر niggardly towards his family. means, the man became poor and straitened in circumstances. is, 380 The verse allows this procedure but makes it obligatory on the husband to see that in such a case his divorced wife receives suitable provision according to his means. Thus Islam seeks not only to provide for the divorced woman but to leave no trace of bitterness, which is very often the result of the dissolution of a marriage. The word i. e. the virtuous or those who act benevolently, has been used to exhort the husband that the more generous he is in his treatment of his divorced wife, the more pleasing will his conduct be in the sight of God.