Transliteration:( Wa izaa tallaqtumun nisaaa'a fabalaghna ajalahunna falaa ta'duloo hunna ai yankihna azwaaja hunna izaa taraadaw bainahum bilma' roof; zaalika yoo'azu bihee man kaana minkum yu'minu billaahi wal yawmil aakhir; zaalikum azkaa lakum wa at-har; wallaahu ya'lamu wa antum laa ta'lamoon )
232. And when you have divorced women and their waiting period is complete, do not prevent them from marrying [560] their husbands if they agree among themselves in a rightful manner [561]. This instruction is for those among you who believe in Allah and the Last Day. This is purer and cleaner [562] for you. And Allah knows, and you do not know. [563]
This verse confirms that an adult woman has the right to remarry her former husband once her iddat has ended.
🔹 She may marry by her own choice, and her guardian (wali) cannot stop her, especially in cases like returning to a previous husband.
🔹 However, this is conditioned—she should not marry someone outside her clan or incompatible in status, which could cause social harm or family disgrace.
The phrase “in a rightful manner” implies that the marriage:
Must not include anything un-Islamic or prohibited,
The Mehr (dower) must be lawful and customary,
🔹 If anything like alcohol or pork is agreed upon as Mehr, it is invalid and the customary dowry (mehr-e-mithl) will be imposed instead.
This verse teaches that denying a woman the right to marry her chosen partner can lead to serious social and personal issues.
🔹 Parents are advised to respect their children’s choices, provided they are Islamically sound.
🔹 Also, Islamic laws are directed towards Muslims, indicating that these rules are binding only upon the believers.
This verse was revealed regarding Hazrat Mu‘qil bin Yasaar (RA), who refused to let his sister remarry her former husband, Asim bin Adi (RA), even after both wished to reunite.
🔹 Allah intervened through revelation to declare such obstruction unjust and impermissible.
🔹 The final reminder: Allah knows better, and what may seem difficult to us may actually carry wisdom and benefit.
231. And when you have divorced women and they have fulfilled the term of their prescribed period, either take them back on a reasonable basis or set them free on a reasonable basis. But do not take them back to hurt them, and whoever does that, then he has wronged himself. And treat not the verses (Laws) of Allah in jest, but remember Allah’s favors on you (i.e., Islam), and that which He has sent down to you of the Book (i.e., the Qur’an) and Al-Hikmah (the Prophet’s Sunnah ـ legal ways ـ Islamic jurisprudence) whereby He instructs you. And fear Allah, and know that Allah is All-Aware of everything).
This is a command from Allah to men that when one of them divorces his wife with a reversible divorce, he should treat her kindly. So when her term of `Iddah (waiting period) nears its end, he either takes her back in a way that is better, including having witnesses that he has taken her back, and he lives with her with kindness. Or, he should release her after her `Iddah finishes and then kindly asks her to depart from his house, without disputing, fighting with her or using foul words. Allah then said:
(But do not take them back to hurt them,)
Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Masruq, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, Ar-Rabi` and Muqatil bin Hayyan said that a man used to divorce his wife, and when her `Iddah came near its end, he would take her back to harm her and to stop her from marrying someone else. He then divorced her and she would begin her `Iddah and when her `Iddah term neared its end, he would take her back again, so that the term of `Iddah would be prolonged for her. After that, Allah prohibited this practice. Allah has also threatened those who indulge in such practices, when He said;
(…and whoever does that, then he has wronged himself.) meaning, by defying Allah’s commandments. Allah then said:
(And treat not the verses (Laws) of Allah in a jest,)
Ibn Jarir said that Abu Musa (Al-Ash`ari) narrated that Allah’s Messenger once became angry at the Ash`ari tribe. Abu Musa went to him and said, “O Messenger of Allah! Are you angry with the Ash`ariyyin” The Prophet said:
(One of you says, `I divorced her’ -then says- `I took her back!’ This is not the appropriate way Muslims conduct divorce. Divorce the woman when she has fulfilled the term of the prescribed period.)
Masruq said that the Ayah refers to the man who harms his wife by divorcing her and then taking her back, so that the `Iddah term is prolonged for her. Al-Hasan, Qatadah, `Ata’ Al-Khurasani, Ar-Rabi` and Muqatil bin Hayyan said, “He is the man who divorces his wife and says, `I was joking.’ Or he frees a servant or gets married and says, `I was only joking.’ Allah revealed:
(And treat not the verses (Laws) of Allah in a jest,)
Then such men were made to bear the consequences of their actions.
Allah then said:
(. ..but remember Allah’s favors on you,) meaning, by His sending His Messenger with the right guidance and clear signs to you:
(…and that which He has sent down to you of the Book (i.e., the Qur’an) and Al-Hikmah) meaning the Sunnah,
(…whereby He instructs you.) meaning, commands you, forbids you and threatens you for transgressing His prohibitions. Allah said:
(And fear Allah) meaning, concerning what you perform and what you avoid,
(and know that Allah is All-Aware of everything.) none of your secret or public affairs ever escapes His knowledge, and He will treat you accordingly.
(2:232) When you divorce women and they have completed their waiting term do not hinder them from marrying other men if they have agreed to this in a fair manner.[256]
That is an admonition to everyone of you who believes in Allah and the Last Day; that is a cleaner and purer way for you. For Allah knows whereas you do not know.
256. This is a directive to the relatives of the divorced woman. When a woman is divorced by her husband and he fails to revoke the divorce before the expiry of the waiting period, the relatives of the woman should not try to prevent the couple from re-marrying if they agree to do so. This verse may also be interpreted to mean that if a divorced woman wants to contract marriage with someone other than her former husband after the expiry of the waiting period, the former husband should not obstruct this marriage by making malicious propaganda against the woman he has forsaken.
That is an admonition to every one of you who believes in Allah and the Last Day; that is a cleaner and purer way for you. For Allah knows whereas you do not know.
[91]- For the first or second time.
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