The Holy Quran 2:237 — Surah Al-Baqarah

Arabic text

وَإِن طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ وَقَدْ فَرَضْتُمْ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً فَنِصْفُ مَا فَرَضْتُمْ إِلَّآ أَن يَعْفُونَ أَوْ يَعْفُوَا۟ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِۦ عُقْدَةُ ٱلنِّكَاحِ ۚ وَأَن تَعْفُوٓا۟ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَلَا تَنسَوُا۟ ٱلْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

Translation

If you divorce them before touching them and you have stipulated the dowry, then half of it (shall be due from the husband), unless the women (decide to forgo the entire amount) or those possessing the tie of marriage (the husbands) forgo it (forgo the concession and decide to pay the dowry in full). To forgo is nearer to piety. Do not forget kindness among yourself for verily Allaah sees all that you do (and will reward you for every good act).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

If the mahr (dower) had been fixed at the time of the marriage and he divorced her before touching her, then giving half the mahr is binding. But if the woman, or the man in whose power it lies to keep or to break the marriage, forgo their right, it is better.

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