221 Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters) until they believe; a slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman even though she allure you. Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe: a man slave who believes is better than un unbeliever even though he allure you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the fire. But Allah beckons by His grace to the Garden (of Bliss) and forgiveness and makes His Signs clear to mankind: that they may celebrate His praise. 246
222 They ask thee concerning women's courses. Say: They
are a hurt and a pollution; so keep away from women in their courses and do not approach
them until they are clean. But when they have purified themselves ye may approach them in
any manner time or place ordained for you by Allah. For Allah loves those who turn to Him
constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean. 247 248
223 Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will. But do
some good act for your souls beforehand; and fear Allah and know that ye are to meet Him
(in the Hereafter) and give (these) good tidings to those who believe. 249
250
224 And make not Allah's (name) an excuse in your oaths against doing good or acting
rightly or making peace between persons; for Allah is one who heareth and knoweth all
things. 251
225 Allah will not call you to account for thoughtlessness in your oaths but for the
intention in your hearts; and He is Oft-Forgiving Most Forbearing. 252
226 For those who take an oath for abstention from their wives a waiting for four months
is ordained; if then they return Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.
227 But if their intention is firm for divorce Allah heareth and knoweth all things. 253
228 Divorced women shall wait concerning themselves for three monthly periods nor is it
lawful for them to hide what Allah hath created in their wombs if they have faith in Allah
and the Last Day. And their husbands have the better right to take them back in that
period if they wish for reconciliation. And women shall have rights similar to the rights
against them according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of advantage) over
them and Allah is Exalted in Power Wise. 254 255
229 A divorce is only permissible twice: after that the
parties should either hold together on equitable terms or separate with kindness. It is
not lawful for you (men) to take back any of your gifts (from your wives) except when both
parties fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah. If ye
(judges) do indeed fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah
there is no blame on either of them if she give something for her freedom. These are the
limits ordained by Allah; so do not transgress them. If any do transgress the limits
ordained by Allah such persons wrong (themselves as well as others). 256
257 258 259
230 So if a husband divorces his wife (irrevocably) he cannot after that remarry her until
after she has married another husband and he has divorced her. In that case there is no
blame on either of them if they reunite provided they feel that they can keep the limits
ordained by Allah. Such are the limits ordained by Allah which He makes plain to those who
understand. 260
Commentry:
246 Marriage is a most intimate communion, and the mystery of sex finds its highest fulfilment when intimate spiritual harmony is combined with the physical link. If religion is at all a real influence in life to both parties or to either party, a difference in this vital matter must affect the lives of both more profoundly than differences of birth, race, language, or position in life. It is therefore only right that the parties to be married should have the same spiritual outlook. If two person love each other, their outlook in the highest things of life must be the same. Note that religion is not here a mere label or a matter of custom or birth. The two persons may have been born in different religions, but if, by their mutual influence, they come to see the truth in the same way, they must openly accept the same rites and the same social brotherhood. Otherwise the position will become impossible individually and socially. (2.221)
247 Azan: hurt, pollution. Both aspects must be remembered.
Physical cleanliness and purity make for health, bodily and spiritual. But the matter
should be looked at from the woman's point of view as well as the man's. To her there is
danger of hurt, and she should have every consideration. In the animal world, instinct is
a guide which is obeyed. Man should in this respect be better: he is often worse. (2.222)
248 Haithu: A comprehensive word referring to manner, time, or place.
The most delicate matters are here referred to in the most discreet and yet helpful terms.
In sex morality, manner, time, and place are all important: and the highest standards are
set by social laws, by our own refined instinct of mutual consideration, and above all, by
the light shed by the highest Teachers form the wisdom which they receive from our Maker,
Who loves purity and cleanliness in all things. (2.222)
249 Sex is not a thing to be ashamed of, or to be treated lightly, or to
be indulged to excess. It is as solemn a fact as any in life. It is compared to a
husbandman's tilth; it is a serious affair to him; he sows the seed in order to reap the
harvest. But he chooses his own time and mode of cultivation. He does not sow out of
season nor cultivate in a manner which will injure or exhaust the soul. He is wise and
considerate and does not run riot. Coming from the simile to human beings, every kind of
mutual consideration is required, but above all, we must remember that even in these
matters there is a spiritual aspect. We must never forget our souls, and that we are
responsible to God. (2.223)
250 Our highest spiritual ambition should be the hope of meeting God. To
uphold such a hope is to give glad tidings to people of faith. It would only be
unrepentant sinners who would fear the meeting. Note how the most sensuous matters are
discussed frankly, and immediately taken up into the loftiest regions of spiritual
upliftment. (2.223)
251 The Arabs had many special kinds of oaths, for each of which they
had a special name in their language. Some of them related to sex matters, and caused
misunderstanding, alienation, division, or separation between husband and wife. This and
the following three verses refer to them. In ii. 224 we are first of all told in perfectly
general terms that we are not to make an oath in the name of God an excuse for not doing
the right thing when it is pointed out to us, or for refraining from doing something which
will bring people together. If we were swayed by anger or passion or mere caprice, God
knows our inmost hearts, and right conduct and not obstinacy or quibbling is what He
demands from us. (2.224)
252 It has been held that thoughtless oaths, if there is no intention
behind them, can be expiated by an act of charity. (2.225)
253 Verses 225-27 should be read together with verse 224. The latter,
though it is perfectly general, leads up to the other three. (2.227)
254 Islam tries to maintain the married state as far as possible,
especially where children are concerned, but it is against the restriction of the liberty
of men and women in such vitally important matters as love and family life. It will check
hasty action as far as possible and leave the door to reconciliation open at many stages.
Even after divorce a suggestion of reconciliation is made, subject to certain precautions
(mentioned in the following verses) against thoughtless action. A period of waiting
(iddat) for three monthly courses is prescribed, in order to see if the marriage
conditionally dissolved is likely to result in issue. But this is not necessary where the
divorced woman is a virgin: Q. xxxiii. 49. It is definitely declared that women and men
shall have similar rights against each other. (2.228)
255 The difference in economic position between the sexes makes the
man's rights and liabilities a little greater than the woman's Q. iv. 34 refers to the
duty of the man to maintain the woman, and to a certain difference in nature between the
sexes. Subject to this, the sexes are on terms of equality in law, and in certain matters
the weaker sex is entitled to special protection. (2.228)
256 Where divorce for mutual incompatibility is allowed, there
is danger that the parties might act hastily, then repent, and again wish to separate. To
prevent such caprisious action repeatedly, a limit is prescribed. Two divorces (with a
reconciliation between) are allowed. After that the parties must definitely make up their
minds, either to dissolve their union permanently, or to live honourable lives together in
mutual love and forbearance - to "hold together on equitable terms," neither
party worrying the other nor grumbling or evading the duties and responsibilities of
marriage. (2.229)
257 If a separation is inevitable, the parties should not throw mud at
each other, but recognise what is right and honourable on a consideration of all the
circumstances. In any case a man is not allowed to ask back for any gifts or property he
may have given to the wife. This is for the protection of the economically weaker sex.
Lest that protective provision itself work against the woman's freedom, an exception is
made in the next clause. (2.229)
258 All the prohibitions and limits prescribed here are in the interest
of good and honourable lives for both sides, and in the interests of a clean and
honourable social life, without public or private scandals. If there is any fear that in
safeguarding her economic rights, her very freedom of person may suffer, the husband
refusing the dissolution of marriage, and perhaps treating her with cruelty, then, in such
exceptional cases, it is permissible to give some material consideration to the husband,
but the need and equity of this should be submitted to the judgment of impartial judges,
i.e., properly constituted courts. A divorce of this kind is called khula. (2.229)
259 Wrong (themselves as well as others): Zalimun: for the root meaning
of zulm see n. 51. ii. 35. (2.229)
260 This is in continuation of the first sentence of ii. 229. Two
divorces followed by re-union are permissible; the third time the divorce becomes
irrevocable, until the woman marries some other man and he divorces her. This is to set an
almost impossible condition. The lesson is: if a man loves a woman he should not allow a
sudden gust of temper or anger to induce him to take hasty action. What happens after two
divorces, if the man takes her back? See n. 261 to ii. 231. (2.230)