The Holy Quran 2:231 — Surah Al-Baqarah

Arabic text

وَإِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَبَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ سَرِّحُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ ۚ وَلَا تُمْسِكُوهُنَّ ضِرَارًا لِّتَعْتَدُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ هُزُوًا ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلْحِكْمَةِ يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

Translation

When you (husbands) divorce (your) wives and they reach their term (close to the end of their Iddah), then (this is your final chance to either) keep them (as your wives) with kindness or (to) release them (from your marriage) with kindness (without making matters difficulty for them and without attaching unjust conditions). (However) Do not keep them (in your marriage) to hurt (harass) them, (thereby) overstepping the limits set by Allaah, for whoever does so has verily done a wrong to himself (because he will have to face the punishment for this). Do not make a joke of (do not treat lightly) Allaah's Aayaat (by mocking them and by disobeying Allaah's commands). Remember the favour of Allaah to you and the Book (Qur'aan) and wisdom (laws of the Qur'aan and Ahaadeeth) which He has revealed to you, giving you advice through them (show your gratitude by obeying all His commands). Fear Allaah (in all matters) and know that surely Allaah is Aware of everything (and will call you to account for all your actions).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

That is, the iddah (waiting period) is coming to an end. The etiquette of taking back: that is, until the iddah ends the husband has the choice either to rejoin that woman again in harmony and unity, or to let her go completely in a good way and with mutual consent.

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