Surah At-Talaaq (65) — Ayah 3

(Ayah 3) ➊ {وَ يَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ :} Mufassir Abdul Rahman Kilani writes: "At this point, sustenance is mentioned so that a person does not act miserly in spending on a divorced woman during her waiting period and in letting her go in a good manner, but rather treats her as well as he can. Also, sometimes the situation is such that the husband and wife are at odds, but the woman is the owner of property or can earn well, so the husband is not willing to leave her, yet he also fails to treat her well, thus he keeps her hanging. In all such situations, one should act only as Allah commands, fearing Allah, and should not fear poverty, because Allah has promised that whoever, trusting in Allah and fearing Him, acts according to His command, then it is Allah’s responsibility to remove his hardship; He will provide him sustenance from where he could not even imagine." (Tayseer al-Qur’an)

➋ { وَ مَنْ يَّتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللّٰهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهٗ … :} That is, whoever, avoiding wrongdoing, remains firm on the truth and entrusts his affairs and benefit or loss to Allah, then Allah will suffice him, because all apparent and hidden means are in Allah’s hands, whereas man’s sight is limited to only a few apparent means. Allah can create a way out of difficulties for His God-fearing servant as He wills, and He can create new means to remove distress and hardship, and He can do whatever He wills even without means, because His power is not bound by means, rather means are subject to His will. He can bring about such results from apparent means that are contrary to human intellect; if He does not will, even a tried and tested medicine becomes a cause of illness instead of cure, and if He wills, something harmful to health becomes a means of cure.

➌ { قَدْ جَعَلَ اللّٰهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا :} That is, if someone, despite fearing Allah, does not find a way out, and despite trusting in Allah, his distress is not removed, then he should not be disheartened, but should patiently and steadfastly await Allah’s mercy and relief, because whatever Allah has said, He will surely fulfill in every situation, but Allah has, with His perfect knowledge, determined a measure and time for everything from the beginning; at the appointed time, His promise to suffice those who trust in Him will surely be fulfilled. The truth is that faith in destiny alone gives a person patience and courage in difficulties. It is said: «قُلْ لَّنْ يُّصِيْبَنَاۤ اِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللّٰهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلٰىنَا وَ عَلَى اللّٰهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ » [ التوبۃ : ۵۱ ] "Say: Nothing will ever befall us except what Allah has written for us; He is our Master, and upon Allah let the believers rely." See also Surah Qamar (49), Furqan (2), Ra’d (8), and Surah Hijr (21).

3. 1 That is, whatever He wills. There is no one to prevent Him. 3. 2 For hardships as well as for ease. Both reach their end at their appointed time. Some have taken this to mean menstruation and waiting period (iddah).

3. And He will provide for him from where he does not expect [12]. And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him. Allah will accomplish His purpose [13]. Indeed, Allah has set a measure for everything [14].

[12] The mention of sustenance at this point is so that a person should not be miserly in spending on a divorced woman during her waiting period and in letting her go in a good manner, but rather, he should treat her as well as he can. Also, sometimes the situation is such that there is constant conflict between husband and wife, but the woman is wealthy or capable of earning well. In such a case, the husband is not willing to leave her, yet he also fails to treat her well. Thus, he keeps the woman hanging in his household. In all such situations, one should act only according to Allah’s command, fearing Allah. One should not fear poverty, because Allah has promised that whoever, trusting in Allah and fearing Him, acts according to His command, then it is Allah’s responsibility to remove his poverty. He will arrange for his sustenance from such places that he could never have imagined before.

[13] This is because all kinds of apparent and hidden means are within Allah’s power, while man’s vision is limited only to a few apparent means. Therefore, He can create a way out of difficulties for the one who fears Him, and He can also create new means to remove poverty. Also, Allah’s power is not bound by means; rather, the means themselves are subject to His will. He has the power to bring about results from apparent means that are contrary to human understanding. For example, if it is not Allah’s will, even a tried and tested medicine can have the opposite effect, or sometimes a harmful medicine can bring about recovery.

[14] That is, if a person caught in difficulties does not find a way out despite acting with fear of Allah, or if someone treats his divorced wife generously beyond his means but his poverty is not immediately removed, then he should not be disheartened by this, because with Him, everything has an appointed measure, and everything occurs according to that measure.