Surah At-Talaq

Ta'awwudh · Seeking Refuge

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytani ar-rajim. I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

The Name · Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

✦

The Surah · At-Talaq

﴾١﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ ۖ لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِنۢ بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَٰحِشَةٍۢ مُّبَيِّنَةٍۢ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ لَا تَدْرِى لَعَلَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًۭا

Ya ayyuha an-nabiyyu idha tallaqtumu an-nisa'a fatalliquhunna li'iddatihinna wa ahsu al-'iddah, wattaqu Allaha Rabbakum, la tukhrijuhunna min buyutihinna wa la yakhrujna illa an ya'tina bifahishatin mubayyinah, wa tilka hududu Allah, wa man yata'adda hududa Allahi faqad zalama nafsah, la tadri la'alla Allaha yuhdithu ba'da dhalika amra

Prophet, when you divorce women, divorce them at their prescribed period, and count the period, and fear Allah your Lord. Do not turn them out of their houses and let them not leave, unless they commit a clear indecency. Those are the limits of Allah, and whoever transgresses the limits of Allah has wronged himself. You do not know, perhaps Allah will bring about after that a new matter.

﴾٢﴿ فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍۢ وَأَشْهِدُوا۟ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍۢ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَٰدَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًۭا

Fa idha balaghna ajalahunna fa-amsikuhunna bima'rufin aw fariquhunna bima'ruf, wa ashhidu dhaway 'adlin minkum wa aqimu ash-shahadata lillah, dhalikum yu'azu bihi man kana yu'minu billahi wal-yawmi al-akhir, wa man yattaqi Allaha yaj'al lahu makhraja

When they have reached their term, retain them honorably or part from them honorably, and call to witness two just men from among you, and establish the testimony for Allah. That is admonition for whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day. Whoever fears Allah, He makes for him a way out.

﴾٣﴿ وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدْرًۭا

Wa yarzuqhu min haythu la yahtasib, wa man yatawakkal 'ala Allahi fahuwa hasbuh, inna Allaha balighu amrih, qad ja'ala Allahu likulli shay'in qadra

And He provides for him from where he does not expect. Whoever relies on Allah, He is sufficient for him. Allah accomplishes His purpose. Allah has set a measure for everything.

﴾٤﴿ وَٱلَّٰٓـِٔى يَئِسْنَ مِنَ ٱلْمَحِيضِ مِن نِّسَآئِكُمْ إِنِ ٱرْتَبْتُمْ فَعِدَّتُهُنَّ ثَلَٰثَةُ أَشْهُرٍۢ وَٱلَّٰٓـِٔى لَمْ يَحِضْنَ ۚ وَأُو۟لَٰتُ ٱلْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ يُسْرًۭا

Walla'i ya'isna mina al-mahidi min nisa'ikum ini irtabtum fa'iddatuhunna thalathatu ashhurin walla'i lam yahidn, wa ulatu al-ahmali ajaluhunna an yada'na hamlahunn, wa man yattaqi Allaha yaj'al lahu min amrihi yusra

As for those of your women who no longer expect menstruation, if you are in doubt, their waiting period is three months, and likewise for those who have not menstruated. For those who are pregnant, their term is until they deliver. Whoever fears Allah, He makes his affair easy for him.

﴾٥﴿ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ أَنزَلَهُۥٓ إِلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يُكَفِّرْ عَنْهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِۦ وَيُعْظِمْ لَهُۥٓ أَجْرًا

Dhalika amru Allahi anzalahu ilaykum, wa man yattaqi Allaha yukaffir 'anhu sayyi'atihi wa yu'zim lahu ajra

That is the command of Allah, which He has sent down to you. Whoever fears Allah, He will cover his bad deeds and increase his reward.

﴾٦﴿ أَسْكِنُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ سَكَنتُم مِّن وُجْدِكُمْ وَلَا تُضَآرُّوهُنَّ لِتُضَيِّقُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن كُنَّ أُو۟لَٰتِ حَمْلٍۢ فَأَنفِقُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ ۚ فَإِنْ أَرْضَعْنَ لَكُمْ فَـَٔاتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ ۖ وَأْتَمِرُوا۟ بَيْنَكُم بِمَعْرُوفٍۢ ۖ وَإِن تَعَاسَرْتُمْ فَسَتُرْضِعُ لَهُۥٓ أُخْرَىٰ

Askinuhunna min haythu sakantum min wujdikum wa la tudarruhunna litudayyiqu 'alayhinn, wa in kunna ulati hamlin fa-anfiqu 'alayhinna hatta yada'na hamlahunn, fa in arda'na lakum fa-atuhunna ujurahunn, wa'tamiru baynakum bima'ruf, wa in ta'asartum fasaturdi'u lahu ukhra

House them where you dwell, according to your means, and do not harm them in order to make things difficult for them. If they are pregnant, spend on them until they deliver. If they nurse the child for you, give them their payment, and consult together honorably. If you disagree, then another woman will nurse for him.

﴾٧﴿ لِيُنفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍۢ مِّن سَعَتِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن قُدِرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُۥ فَلْيُنفِقْ مِمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَآ ءَاتَىٰهَا ۚ سَيَجْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بَعْدَ عُسْرٍۢ يُسْرًۭا

Liyunfiq dhu sa'atin min sa'atih, wa man qudira 'alayhi rizquhu falyunfiq mimma atahu Allah, la yukallifu Allahu nafsan illa ma ataha, sayaj'alu Allahu ba'da 'usrin yusra

Let the man of means spend from his means, and let the one whose provision is restricted spend from what Allah has given him. Allah does not burden a soul beyond what He has given it. Allah will bring about ease after hardship.

﴾٨﴿ وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ عَتَتْ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهَا وَرُسُلِهِۦ فَحَاسَبْنَٰهَا حِسَابًۭا شَدِيدًۭا وَعَذَّبْنَٰهَا عَذَابًۭا نُّكْرًۭا

Wa ka-ayyin min qaryatin 'atat 'an amri Rabbiha wa rusulihi fahasabnaha hisaban shadidan wa 'adhdhabnaha 'adhaban nukra

How many a town defied the command of its Lord and His messengers, so We called it to a severe account and punished it with a terrible punishment.

﴾٩﴿ فَذَاقَتْ وَبَالَ أَمْرِهَا وَكَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ أَمْرِهَا خُسْرًا

Fadhaqat wabala amriha wa kana 'aqibatu amriha khusra

It tasted the consequence of its affair, and the end of its affair was loss.

﴾١٠﴿ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ عَذَابًۭا شَدِيدًۭا ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ يَٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۚ قَدْ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكُمْ ذِكْرًۭا

A'adda Allahu lahum 'adhaban shadida, fattaqu Allaha ya uli al-albabi alladhina amanu, qad anzala Allahu ilaykum dhikra

Allah has prepared for them a severe punishment. So fear Allah, you people of understanding who believe. Allah has sent down to you a reminder.

﴾١١﴿ رَّسُولًۭا يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ مُبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ لِّيُخْرِجَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ وَيَعْمَلْ صَٰلِحًۭا يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًۭا ۖ قَدْ أَحْسَنَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ رِزْقًا

Rasulan yatlu 'alaykum ayati Allahi mubayyinatin liyukhrija alladhina amanu wa 'amilu as-salihati mina az-zulumati ila an-nur, wa man yu'min billahi wa ya'mal salihan yudkhilhu jannatin tajri min tahtiha al-anharu khalidina fiha abada, qad ahsana Allahu lahu rizqa

A messenger reciting to you the clear verses of Allah, to bring those who believe and do right out of the darknesses into the light. Whoever believes in Allah and does right, He will admit him into gardens with rivers running beneath them, remaining there forever. Allah has made his provision excellent.

﴾١٢﴿ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَٰوَٰتٍۢ وَمِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ ٱلْأَمْرُ بَيْنَهُنَّ لِتَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًۢا

Allahu alladhi khalaqa sab'a samawatin wa mina al-ardi mithlahunna yatanazzalu al-amru baynahunna lita'lamu anna Allaha 'ala kulli shay'in qadirun wa anna Allaha qad ahata bikulli shay'in 'ilma

Allah is the One who created seven heavens, and of the earth the like of them. The command descends among them, so that you may know that Allah is capable of all things and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What The Surah Means

Overview

Surah At-Talaq is twelve verses, chapter 65, Madani. It legislates the ending of a marriage, and it is the surah men quote for verses about provision without noticing where those verses are standing. The famous promise, that Allah makes a way out and provides from where you do not expect, is given inside a chapter about divorce.

That placement is the teaching. The verses on trust and unexpected provision were revealed for the worst week of a household's life, when a man is angry, a woman is exposed, and the temptation to be cruel is legitimate and available. The surah regulates the conduct first and then attaches the promise to the conduct.

Allah will make a way out for him and provide from where he does not expect. It was revealed about a divorce.

Verses 1–2 · Count It, and Do Not Expel Her

Divorce them at their prescribed period, and count the period, and fear Allah your Lord.

Fa talliquhunna li'iddatihinn wa ahsu al-'iddah: divorce at the prescribed time and count the period. The first instruction is timing and record keeping, which slows the entire process down at the moment when speed serves cruelty.

La tukhrijuhunna min buyutihinna wa la yakhrujn: do not turn them out of their houses and let them not leave. The house is called hers. In the middle of the dissolution, the residence is assigned to the woman and the man is forbidden from removing her.

La'alla Allaha yuhdithu ba'da dhalika amra: perhaps Allah will bring about, after that, a new matter. The reason given for the waiting period and the shared residence is that reconciliation stays possible, and the law is built to keep that door open rather than to speed the exit.

Fa idha balaghna ajalahunna fa-amsikuhunna bi-ma'rufin aw fariquhunna bi-ma'ruf: retain them honorably or part from them honorably. Both options are given the same qualifier. There is no permitted version of this that is not conducted well.

Count it, do not remove her, and if it ends, end it honorably. The same word governs staying and leaving.

Verses 2–3 · The Way Out

Whoever fears Allah, He makes for him a way out, and provides for him from where he does not expect.

Wa man yattaqi Allaha yaj'al lahu makhraja: a makhraj is an exit from a situation that has closed around a man. The word assumes constriction.

Wa yarzuqhu min haythu la yahtasib: and provides from where he does not account for it. The same construction used for istidraj in Al-Qalam and for the collapse in Al-Hashr, pointed at mercy this time. What arrives from the direction you are not watching can be any of the three.

Wa man yatawakkal 'ala Allahi fahuwa hasbuh: whoever relies on Allah, He is sufficient for him. Hasb is the word for what settles an account. He is enough, in the accounting sense.

Inna Allaha balighu amrih, qad ja'ala Allahu likulli shay'in qadra: Allah accomplishes His purpose, and He has set a measure for everything. The passage closes on measure, which is the answer to a man who wants to know how long the constriction lasts.

Keep the context. This is addressed to someone conducting a separation correctly, at cost, when cutting corners would be cheaper. The way out is promised to the man who is behaving well while it hurts.

The exit is promised to the man who is being decent inside a situation that has closed around him.

Verses 4–7 · Housing, Spending, Capacity

House them where you dwell, according to your means, and do not harm them in order to make things difficult for them.

Askinuhunna min haythu sakantum min wujdikum: house them where you live, from your means. The obligation is scaled to what you have, and it is an obligation to house, not to compensate and remove.

Wa la tudarruhunna litudayyiqu 'alayhinn: do not harm them in order to constrain them. The Quran names the exact tactic, which is applying pressure to force a woman to leave or to surrender her rights, and forbids it by naming the intent behind it.

Wa in kunna ulati hamlin fa-anfiqu 'alayhinn hatta yada'na hamlahunn: if they are pregnant, spend on them until they deliver. Fa in arda'na lakum fa-atuhunna ujurahunn: if they nurse your child, give them their payment. The financial obligations continue past the end of the relationship and are itemized.

Wa'tamiru baynakum bi-ma'ruf: consult together honorably. Even after it has ended, the instruction is to confer.

Liyunfiq dhu sa'atin min sa'atih wa man qudira 'alayhi rizquhu falyunfiq mimma atahu Allah, la yukallifu Allahu nafsan illa ma ataha: let the man of means spend from his means, and let the one whose provision is restricted spend from what Allah has given him. Allah does not burden a soul beyond what He has given it. Sayaj'alu Allahu ba'da 'usrin yusra. Allah will bring about ease after hardship.

Housed, paid, consulted, and never pressured out. The spending is scaled to the man, and the ease is promised after.

Verses 8–12 · The Measure of the One Commanding

Allah is He who created seven heavens, and of the earth the like of them. The command descends among them.

The surah turns from the household to the scale of the One issuing the rulings, and the move is deliberate. A man who is angry with his wife is being reminded who wrote the procedure.

Wa ka-ayyin min qaryatin 'atat 'an amri Rabbiha: how many a town defied the command of its Lord, and was called to a severe account. Domestic conduct is placed in the same category as the fall of towns.

Qad anzala Allahu ilaykum dhikra, rasulan yatlu 'alaykum ayati Allahi mubayyinat: He has sent down to you a reminder, a messenger reciting clear verses, to bring out those who believe and act rightly from darkness into light.

Allahu alladhi khalaqa sab'a samawatin wa mina al-ardi mithlahunn, yatanazzalu al-amru baynahunn: seven heavens and of the earth the like of them, with the command descending among them. Litakalamu anna Allaha 'ala kulli shay'in qadir wa anna Allaha qad ahata bikulli shay'in 'ilma. So that you may know that He is capable of all things and has encompassed all things in knowledge.

The surah about a marriage ending closes on the structure of the universe and the completeness of His knowledge. Nothing in the separation is unobserved.

The chapter about one household ends with seven heavens and the command descending through them.

Structural Summary

Twelve Verses. End It Honorably.

Verse 1The ProcedureDivorce at the prescribed time, count the period, and do not turn her out of her house.

Verses 2–3The PromiseRetain or part honorably. Whoever fears Allah is given a way out and provision from an unwatched direction.

Verses 4–5The PeriodsThe waiting periods specified, including for the pregnant, and ease promised for the God-conscious.

Verse 6The HousingHouse her according to your means, do not harm her to pressure her, and pay her if she nurses.

Verse 7The CapacitySpend from what you have. Allah does not burden a soul beyond what He has given it, and ease follows hardship.

Verses 8–11The PrecedentTowns that defied the command were called to account, and a messenger was sent with clear verses.

Verse 12The ScaleSeven heavens and their like of earth, with the command descending, and knowledge encompassing everything.

Why This Surah Is For You

The most quoted promise about provision in the Quran, a way out and rizq from an unexpected direction, sits inside the divorce legislation. It was given to a man conducting the hardest and most tempting situation of his life correctly. Quoting it as a general prosperity line removes the condition it was attached to.

Verse 6 forbids a specific tactic by naming the intent behind it. Do not harm her in order to constrain her. Pressure applied to make someone give up what is theirs is identified and prohibited, which is worth carrying into every negotiation, not only this one.

Verse 7 scales the obligation to the man. The one with means spends from his means, the one whose provision is tight spends from what he was given, and no soul is burdened beyond what it has been handed. Read it beside At-Taghabun 16. This juz keeps setting the standard at capacity.

The surah keeps the door open on purpose. Perhaps Allah will bring about a new matter. The waiting period, the shared residence, and the honorable parting all exist to protect a reconciliation that neither party can currently imagine.

The Practice · Daily Integration

Twelve Verses. Conduct It Well.

If you are ending anything, slow it down and record it. Verse 1 makes counting the first obligation, because speed serves cruelty.

Never apply pressure designed to make someone surrender what is theirs. Verse 6 forbids the intent, not only the act.

Quote verses 2 and 3 with their condition attached. The way out and the unexpected provision were promised to a man behaving well at cost.

Scale your obligations to your actual capacity, and do not use capacity as an excuse. Verse 7 does both at once.

He wrote the procedure for the worst week of a household, and attached the way out to conducting it honorably.

آمِين

Prepared with discipline · Ameen

Verse-By-Verse · Test Yourself

The Quiz

Two questions per verse. Translation and a key Arabic word. Walk through it slow. The goal is comprehension, not speed.

Verse 11 / 24

The Verse

فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ

Fatalliquhunna li'iddatihinna wa ahsu al-'iddah

What are the first two instructions given in verse 1?