سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 229
ٱلطَّلَـٰقُ مَرَّتَانِ ۖ فَإِمْسَاكٌۢ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌۢ بِإِحْسَـٰنٍ ۗ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَأْخُذُوا۟ مِمَّآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّآ أَن يَخَافَآ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا فِيمَا ٱفْتَدَتْ بِهِۦ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَعْتَدُوهَا ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ﴿229﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The divorce is twice, after that, either you retain her on reasonable terms or release her with kindness. And it is not lawful for you (men) to take back (from your wives) any of your Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) which you have given them, except when both parties fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allâh (e.g. to deal with each other on a fair basis). Then if you fear that they would not be able to keep the limits ordained by Allâh, then there is no sin on either of them if she gives back (the Mahr or a part of it) for her Al-Khul‘ (divorce). These are the limits ordained by Allâh, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits ordained by Allâh, then such are the Zâlimûn (wrong-doers).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱلطَّلَـٰقُ
al-ṭalāqu
The divorce
مَرَّتَانِ ۖ
marratāni
(is) twice
فَإِمْسَاكٌۢ
fa-im'sākun
Then to retain
بِمَعْرُوفٍ
bimaʿrūfin
in a reasonable manner
أَوْ
aw
or
تَسْرِيحٌۢ
tasrīḥun
to release (her)
بِإِحْسَـٰنٍۢ ۗ
bi-iḥ'sānin
with kindness
وَلَا
walā
And (it is) not
يَحِلُّ
yaḥillu
lawful
لَكُمْ
lakum
for you
أَن
an
that
تَأْخُذُوا۟
takhudhū
you take (back)
مِمَّآ
mimmā
whatever
ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ
ātaytumūhunna
you have given them
شَيْـًٔا
shayan
anything
إِلَّآ
illā
except
أَن
an
if
يَخَافَآ
yakhāfā
both fear
أَلَّا
allā
that not
يُقِيمَا
yuqīmā
they both (can) keep
حُدُودَ
ḥudūda
(the) limits
ٱللَّهِ ۖ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
فَإِنْ
fa-in
But if
خِفْتُمْ
khif'tum
you fear
أَلَّا
allā
that not
يُقِيمَا
yuqīmā
they both (can) keep
حُدُودَ
ḥudūda
(the) limits
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
فَلَا
falā
then (there is) no
جُنَاحَ
junāḥa
sin
عَلَيْهِمَا
ʿalayhimā
on both of them
فِيمَا
fīmā
in what
ٱفْتَدَتْ
if'tadat
she ransoms
بِهِۦ ۗ
bihi
concerning it
تِلْكَ
til'ka
These
حُدُودُ
ḥudūdu
(are the) limits
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
فَلَا
falā
so (do) not
تَعْتَدُوهَا ۚ
taʿtadūhā
transgress them
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
يَتَعَدَّ
yataʿadda
transgresses
حُدُودَ
ḥudūda
(the) limits
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
fa-ulāika
then those
هُمُ
humu
they
ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
l-ẓālimūna
(are) the wrongdoers
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
229. 1. That is, the divorce in which the husband is given the right of revocation (within the 'iddah period) is twice. Revocation is possible after the first and second divorce, but not after the third. In the pre-Islamic era, this right was unlimited, which was a burden on women. It should also be known that many scholars rule that three divorces in one sitting are valid. 229.2 Meaning, to retain her in a good manner. 229.3 Meaning, by giving the third divorce. 229.4 This explains Khul': if a woman seeks separation, the husband can take back the mahr he gave. If the husband refuses, a court can order the divorce or annul the marriage. In both cases, the 'iddah is one menstrual cycle (Sources: Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, etc.). Along with giving the woman this right, it is also strongly emphasized that the woman should not demand separation, i.e., divorce from her husband without any valid excuse. If she does so, the Prophet ﷺ has stated a severe warning for such women that they will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise. (Ibn Kathir, etc.)
