The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
By paying back all or part of the dowry in return for divorce.
b
Sometimes a woman’s father or brother would interfere to stop her reconciling with
her husband. Here the Qur
an condemns such interference.
The Qur
an
2: 229
26

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account of her child, nor any father on account of his. The same
duty is incumbent on the father’s heir.
a
If, by mutual consent and
consultation, the couple wish to wean [the child], they will not be
blamed, nor will there be any blame if you wish to engage a wet
nurse, provided you pay as agreed in a fair manner. Be mindful of
God, knowing that He sees everything you do.
234If any of you die and leave widows, the widows should wait for
four months and ten nights before remarrying. When they have
completed this set time, you will not be blamed for anything they
may reasonably choose to do with themselves. God is fully aware of
what you do. 
235You will not be blamed whether you give a hint that
you wish to marry these women, or keep it to yourselves –
– God
knows that you intend to propose
b
to them. Do not make a secret
arrangement with them; speak to them honourably and do not con-
firm the marriage tie until the prescribed period reaches its end.
Remember that God knows what is in your souls, so be mindful of
Him. Remember that God is most forgiving and forbearing.
236You will not be blamed if you divorce women when you have
not yet consummated the marriage or 
fixed a bride-gift for them, but
make fair provision for them, the rich according to his means and the
poor according to his –
– this is a duty for those who do good. 
237If you
divorce wives before consummating the marriage but after 
fixing a
bride-gift for them, then give them half of what you had previously
fixed, unless they waive [their right], or unless the one who holds the
marriage tie waives [his right]. Waiving [your right] is nearer to
godliness, so do not forget to be generous towards one another: God
sees what you do. 
238Take care to do your prayers,
c
praying in the
best way,
d
and stand before God in devotion. 
239If you are in danger,
pray when you are out walking or riding; when you are safe again,
remember God, for He has taught you what you did not know.
240If any of you die and leave widows, make a bequest for them: a
year’s maintenance and no expulsion from their homes [for that
time]. But if they leave of their own accord, you will not be blamed
for what they may reasonably choose to do with themselves: God is
a
If he dies.
b
Dhakara in classical Arabic meant ‘to propose’.
c
To secure that the parties in such a bitter situation will abide by the Qur
an’s
teaching they are instructed to pray and stand before God.
d
Another interpretation is ‘including the middle prayer’, with various opinions as to
which prayer is meant.
The Cow
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2: 240

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almighty and wise. 
241Divorced women shall also have such mainten-
ance as is considered fair: this is a duty for those who are mindful of
God.
242In this way God makes His revelations clear to you, so that
you may grow in understanding.
243[Prophet], consider those people who abandoned their home-
land in fear of death,
a
even though there were thousands of them.
God said to them, ‘Die!’ and then brought them back to life again;
God shows real favour to people, but most of them are ungrateful.
244Fight
b
in God’s cause and remember that He is all hearing and all
knowing. 
245Who will give God a good loan, which He will increase
for him many times over? It is God who withholds and God who
gives abundantly, and it is to Him that you will return.
246[Prophet], consider the leaders of the Children of Israel who
came after Moses, when they said to one of their prophets, ‘Set up a
king for us and we shall 
fight in God’s cause.’ He said, ‘But could it
be that you would not 
fight, if it were ordained for you?’ They said,
‘How could we not 
fight in God’s cause when we and our children
have been driven out of our homeland?’ Yet when they were com-
manded to 
fight, all but a few of them turned away: God has full
knowledge of those who do wrong. 
247Their prophet said to them,
‘God has now appointed Talut
c
to be your king,’ but they said, ‘How
can he be king over us when we have a greater right to rule than he?
He does not even have great wealth.’ He said, ‘God has chosen him
over you, and has given him great knowledge and stature. God
grants His authority to whoever He pleases: God is magnanimous,
all knowing.’
248Their prophet said to them, ‘The sign of his author-
ity will be that the Ark [of the Covenant] will come to you. In it there
will be [the gift of] tranquillity from your Lord and relics of the
followers of Moses and Aaron, carried by the angels. There is a sign
in this for you if you believe.’
249When Talut set out with his forces, he said to them, ‘God will
test you with a river. Anyone who drinks from it will not belong with
me, but anyone who refrains from tasting it will belong with me; if
he scoops up just one handful [he will be excused].’ But they all
drank [deep] from it, except for a few. When he crossed it with those