Surah al-Talaq Reflections

The Qurʾanic Way of Teaching Fiqh

The Qurʾānic methodology of presenting the laws of fiqh is truly remarkable. The rules are not delivered in a dry or purely legalistic manner. Instead, they are interwoven with constant reminders of Allah, His Names, and the Hereafter. Consequently, the āyāt containing legal rulings feature Allah’s Names the most.

For instance, Sūrah al-Ṭalāq contains rulings about divorce, yet its verses are filled with reminders of īmān, knowing Allah, trusting Him, and servitude (ʿubūdiyyah) to Him.

This teaches us that fiqh is not merely a set of laws; it is a pathway to increasing our īmān, deepening our maʿrifah (knowledge) of Allah, and strengthening our connection with Him.

Therefore, we must learn and teach fiqh with the aim of nurturing hearts, not just informing minds, so that the laws we study draw us nearer to the Lawgiver and increase our love and awe of Him.

The Ethical Framework for Divorce

يـٰٓأَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ النِّسَآءَ فَطَلِّقُوْهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ رَبَّكُمْ لَا تُخْرِجُوْهُنَّ مِنْ بُيُوْتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّآ اَنْ يَّاْتِيْنَ بِفَاحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ وَتِلْكَ حُدُوْدُ اللّٰهِ وَمَنْ يَّتَعَدَّ حُدُوْدَ اللّٰهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُ لَا تَدْرِىْ لَعَلَّ اللّٰهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًا

“O Prophet! (Instruct the believers:) When you (intend to) divorce women, then divorce them with concern for their waiting period, and count it accurately. And fear Allah, your Lord. Do not force them out of their homes, nor should they leave — unless they commit a blatant misconduct. These are the limits set by Allah. And whoever transgresses Allah’s limits has truly wronged his own soul. You never know, perhaps Allah will bring about a change (of heart) later.” (65:1)

• Sūrah al-Ṭalāq and its ruling reveal Islam’s deep concern for women, safeguarding their rights, and attending to their natural needs, in a way unmatched by any other law or system.
• Divorce should never be a result of a fleeting whim, anger, or haste. It is a serious decision that affects the future of an entire family and must be approached with careful thought and reflection.
• A husband’s oppression of his wife is ultimately oppression against himself, for it transgresses the limits set by Allah.

The Wisdom Behind Allah’s Command

Allah says,

لَا تُخْرِجُوْهُنَّ مِنْ بُيُوْتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّآ اَنْ بِفَاحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ

“…Do not drive them out of their homes, nor should they leave — unless they commit a blatant misconduct…” (65:1)

This refers to a revocable divorce (one ṭalāq), during which the wife remains in the marital home throughout the ʿiddah (waiting) period. One might say: How can we remain under the same roof when there is hurt and offence between us? The answer is found in the āyah itself:

لَا تَدرِىْ لَعَلَّ اللّٰهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذٰلِكَ اَمْرًا

“… You never know, perhaps Allah will bring about a change (of heart) thereafter” (65:1)

Reconciliation, healing, mercy, and softened hearts often come in ways we do not expect.

Marriage & Taqwa

فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوْهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوْهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَّأَشْهِدُوا ذَوَيْ عَدْلٍ مِّنْكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ لِلّٰهِ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِ مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللّٰهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَمَنْ يَّتَّقِ اللّٰهَ يَجْعَلْ لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا

“Then when they have (almost) reached the end of their waiting period, either retain them honourably or separate from them honourably. And call two of your reliable men to witness (either way). And (O witnesses,) keep your testimony upright for the sake of Allah. This is enjoined on whoever has faith in Allah and the Last Day. And whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make a way out for them.” (65:2)

• Taqwā (God-consciousness) leads a person to act with fairness and kindness.

As al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī advised: “Marry your daughter to a pious man: if he loves her, he will honour her; if he dislikes her, he will not wrong her.”

• As divorce often brings hardship and emotional strain, Allah ﷺ reminds us to hold firmly to taqwā. Whoever keeps God-consciousness at the forefront, in divorce or in any other matter, Allah promises them ease, support, and a way forward.

Taqwa: The Key to Divine Deliverance

Allah says:

وَمَنْ يَّتَّقِ اللّٰهَ يَجْعَلْ لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ

“…And whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make a way out for them, and provide them from where they could never imagine…” (65:2-3)

This āyah is a promise to you: if you have taqwā (mindfulness and obedience of Allah), He will save you from the hardships of both worlds and grant you success in ways you could never imagine.

ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) said that this is greatest verse in the Qur’ān that offers relief.

Ibn al-Jawzī (raḥimahullāh) reflects: “I was overwhelmed by a matter that caused me constant distress, and I tried every possible means to find relief but could not. Then this verse was presented to me and I realised that taqwā is the true cause of deliverance from every distress. Once I resolved to attain taqwā, I found the way out!”

“I prayed, I trusted… but nothing changed!”

Allah says,

وَمَنْ يَّتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللّٰهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللّٰهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللّٰهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا

“…And whoever places his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him. Surely Allah is to accomplish His purpose. Allah has set a measure for every thing” (65:3).

Ibn al-Qayyim (raḥimahullāh) said:
“All strength lies in relying upon Allah (tawakkul). As some of the pious predecessors said: whoever wishes to be the strongest of people should place their trust in Allah. True strength, sufficiency, protection, and deliverance are guaranteed for the one who relies on Him.
Any deficiency in these blessings comes only to the extent that one’s taqwā (mindfulness and obedience) and tawakkul on Allah are lacking. With full realisation of both, Allah will make a way out of every difficulty, and He will be sufficient for the servant.”
He then clarified a common misconception: one should not expect immediate results upon placing trust in Allah. As Allah says, “Indeed, Allah has set a measure for everything” i.e. He has a preordained time for everything.
Never become impatient and complain, “I have relied upon Allah and prayed, but nothing has changed.”

Allah’s decree unfolds perfectly according to the time He has determined. He knows what is best for you, so as long as you are mindful of His commands, He will give you what is best for you — according to His timeframe, and not yours.

Marriage, Divorce, and Mutual Goodness

أَسْكِنُوْهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ سَكَنْتُمْ مِّنْ وُّجْدِكُمْ وَلَا تُضَآرُّوْهُنَّ لِتُضَيِّقُوْا عَلَيْهِنَّ وَإِنْ كُنَّ أُولَاتِ حَمْلٍ فَأَنفِقُوْا عَلَيْهِنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ فَإِنْ أَرْضَعْنَ لَكُمْ فَآتُوهُنَّ أُجُوْرَهُنَّ وَاْتَمِرُوْا بَيْنَكُمْ بِمَعْرُوْفٍ وَإِنْ تَعَاسَرْتُمْ فَسَتُرْضِعُ لَهُٓ أُخْرَىٰ

“Let them live where you live (during their waiting period), according to your means. And do not harass them to make their stay unbearable. If they are pregnant, then spend on them until they deliver. And if they nurse your child, give them their fees, and consult each other (for determining the fee) with kindness. But if you fail to reach an agreement, then another woman will nurse (the child) for the father.” (65:6)

• Marital bonds are strengthened through kindness and good conduct, and if the marriage must end, let it end with goodness as well. This preserves the affection of hearts and honors the memories of past days.
• Divorce was prescribed as a mercy for people when continuation of the marriage becomes impossible. Do not turn it into a source of harm through oppression, spite, or malice.
• Parents should exercise moderation: fathers, avoid stinginess; mothers, avoid greed. Agree with one another in kindness on what is best for your children.

Ease After Hardship

Allah says:

سَيَجْعَلُ اللّٰهُ بَعْدَ عُسْرٍ يُّسْرًا

“…Allah will soon bring ease after a difficulty” (65:7).

In Sūrah at-Ṭalāq (the Divorce), this reminder comes immediately after discussing the challenges and hardships of divorce: the tension between spouses, disputes over custody or breastfeeding, and the financial strain that may follow. Its placement is remarkable: after describing such difficulties, Allah immediately reassures you with hope.

It is a clear divine promise and a source of comfort. Whoever experiences the trials of divorce should not fall into despair or hopelessness. Rather, this verse inspires optimism: you must maintain good expectations of Allah, take the necessary steps, and then be confident that ease and relief will follow.

The Consequences of Neglecting Allah’s Law

وَكَأَيِّنْ مِّنْ قَرْيَةٍ عَتَتْ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهَا وَرُسُلِهِ فَحَاسَبْنَاهَا حِسَابًا شَدِيدًا وَّعَذَّبْنَاهَا عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا ‎

“And how many societies rebelled against the commandments of their Lord and His messengers, so We called them to a severe account and subjected them to a horrible punishment.” (65:8)

• The Qur’ān warns of the consequences for those who neglect the Sharīʿah of Allah and transgress His limits. Many rulings of Islam have been neglected in numerous lands due to the schemes of enemies and the ignorance of many Muslims. As a result, rights have been lost, security has been stripped away, and conflicts have been inflamed. Families have fragmented, communities have split and the Ummah has been torn apart.

• If a society turns away and breaks His commands, it becomes deserving of the punishment that has befallen previous peoples.

• Allah’s guidelines are perfect. They lead to success in this world and the Hereafter.