Transliteration:( Wa izaa tallaqtumun nisaaa'a fabalaghna ajala hunna fa amsikoohunna bima'roofin law sarrihoo hunna bima'roof; wa laa tumsikoo hunna diraa rallita'tadoo; wa mai yaf'al zaalika faqad zalama nafsah; wa laa tattakhizooo aayaatillaahi huzuwaa; wazkuroo ni'matal laahi 'alaikum wa maaa anzala 'alaikum minal kitaabi wal hikmati ya'izukum bih; wattaqul laaha wa'lamooo annal laaha bikulli shai'in 'Aleem )
231. And when you have divorced women and they have completed their term, either retain them with kindness or release them [553] with kindness. And do not retain them to hurt them and commit aggression [554]. And whoever does so wrongs his own self [555]. And do not take the verses of Allah in jest [556], and remember the favor [557] of Allah upon you and what He has revealed to you of the Book and wisdom [558] to advise you. And fear Allah, and know that Allah is the Knower of all things. [559]
After a woman has completed her iddat (waiting period), the husband has only two options:
Revoke the divorce with the intention of reconciliation and kindness, or
Let her go respectfully, either by allowing iddat to end or issuing a third and final divorce.
🔹 In either case, no form of force, pressure, or manipulation is allowed.
A husband must not retain his wife during iddat to:
Extend the waiting period unnecessarily,
Exploit or harass her,
Or seek revenge.
🔹 However, if the intention is sincere—like reconciliation or her well-being—then it is permitted.
The verse warns that a man who abuses the divorce process to harm his wife is actually wronging himself.
🔹 This refers to cases like Hazrat Sabit bin Yasaar Ansari, who misused the right of revocation to distress his wife after iddat neared completion.
🔹 Such behavior is sinful and condemned.
Marriage and divorce should never be misused as tools of mockery or manipulation.
🔹 Treating these laws lightly or using them to torment a spouse shows disrespect for Divine legislation.
🔹 Doing so brings spiritual harm upon the violator.
The verse reminds believers to remember Allah’s favor—especially the honor of being among the followers of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ.
🔹 As stated elsewhere: “And publicize well the favours of your Lord” (Surah 93: Ayah 11).
🔹 Being granted access to divine guidance is itself a great blessing.
Here, "Book" refers to the Qur'an and "wisdom" refers to Hadith.
🔹 This establishes that knowledge of both is essential for understanding and applying Islamic teachings.
🔹 Both serve to advise and guide the believer.
One who is fully conscious that Allah knows all, will be deterred from engaging in sinful acts.
🔹 The phrase “and know” means to be aware, reflect, and take heed.
🔹 True belief in Allah's complete knowledge leads to greater obedience and fear of wrongdoing.
The tafsir of Surah Baqarah verse 230 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Baqarah ayat 229 which provides the complete commentary from verse 229 through 230.
(2:231) And so, when you divorce women and they reach the end of their waiting term, then either retain them in a fair manner or let them go in a fair manner. And do not retain them to their hurt or by way of transgression; whosoever will do that will indeed wrong himself.[254]
Do not take the Signs of Allah in jest and remember Allah’s favour upon you. He exhorts you to revere the Book and the Wisdom that He has sent down upon you.[255] Fear Allah, and know well that Allah has full knowledge of everything.
254. It is absolutely improper that a person should revoke the divorce he pronounced on his wife before the lapse of the period of waiting merely in order to use this revocation as a pretext to harass and torment her . God commands that if a person revokes the divorce this decision should be prompted by a sincere desire to live together amicably. Should that intention be lacking, it is better to part company in a graceful manner see further (Surah Al-Baqarah, ayat 229) note 250.
255. Muslims should not forget that by teaching them the Book and Wisdom, God entrusted them with the glorious task of guiding the world. They should also not forget that they were appointed the ‘community, of the middle way’ and appointed as witnesses to good and righteousness see (Surah Al-Baqarah, ayat 143). It does not become them, therefore, to indulge in sophistry and to play with the verses of the Book of God, to exploit the words of the Law to their advantage in achieving ends counter to its spirit, and to slump into injustice and other evil behaviour instead of directing the world to the Right Way.
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