📗 Surah At-Talaq – Overview

🪶 Arabic Name: سورة الطلاق

📝 Meaning: “The Divorce”

📍 Classification: Madani (Medinan)

🔢 Total Verses: 12

⏳ Chronological Order of Revelation: 99th Surah revealed (a Mid- to Late-Medinan Surah)

📖 Key Themes: The Laws and Etiquette of Divorce, The Importance of Taqwa (God-consciousness) as a source of relief, Divine Provision and Solutions, The Responsibility of Child Maintenance, and Lessons from the Fate of Past Nations.

⚖️ Verse 65:1 — The Divine Procedure: How to End a Marriage Without Breaking God’s Law (Legal Ruling)

Estimated placement in timeline: Mid- to Late-Medinan (c. 5-7 AH / 626-629 CE) — Confidence: High (90%).

Context & Events (Asbab al-Nuzul): This Surah, often called “the Shorter Surah of Women” (Surat an-Nisa’ as-Sughra), was revealed to correct harmful and unjust pre-Islamic (and sometimes post-Islamic) practices related to divorce. In Jahiliyyah, men could divorce and revoke the divorce an unlimited number of times, leaving a woman in a cruel state of limbo. Islam reformed this. This verse begins with a direct address to the Prophet (ﷺ), and by extension, all believers, laying down the foundational rule for a valid, righteous divorce. The key command is to divorce women “for their prescribed waiting period” (li-‘iddatihinna). This means a man should only pronounce divorce when the woman is in a state of purity (not menstruating) and in a period where they have not been intimate. This timing ensures clarity regarding pregnancy and protects the woman. The verse also commands men not to expel their wives from the marital home during this waiting period (‘iddah) and to “keep count” of the period meticulously. A famous incident often cited as the backdrop for this verse is that of the great companion Abdullah ibn Umar (RA), who divorced his wife while she was menstruating. His father, Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), informed the Prophet (ﷺ), who became very displeased and commanded him to take her back and wait until she was pure to divorce her, if he still wished to do so. This verse institutionalized this correct procedure.

Referenced Timeline: Contemporary Madinah. This is a direct legislative intervention to regulate the practice of divorce in the Muslim community.

“O Prophet, when you [believers] divorce women, divorce them for their prescribed waiting period and count the waiting period, and fear Allah, your Lord. Do not turn them out of their houses, nor should they [themselves] leave…” (Qur’an 65:1)

• Primary evidence: The content is purely legislative and addresses family law, a hallmark of Medinan revelation. The detailed, procedural nature of the guidance suggests it was revealed to solve specific, recurring problems in the community.
• Classical tafsir: Most commentators, including Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, cite the hadith of Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim as the primary context for this verse. They explain that the Prophet’s (ﷺ) command to Ibn Umar to revoke his invalid divorce and follow the correct procedure is the practical application and reason for this verse’s revelation.

• Location/Context: Madinah.
• Primary Actors: The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), Abdullah ibn Umar (RA), and the Muslim community.
• Function in Narrative: To establish the correct and just procedure for initiating divorce, emphasizing the importance of the waiting period and the possibility of reconciliation.
• Evidence Level: High. The verse’s content is directly illuminated by a specific and authenticated event recorded in the major hadith collections, providing a clear historical anchor.

🚪 Verses 65:2-3 — The Divine Promise: For Every Hardship, God Will Make a Way Out

Estimated placement in timeline: Mid- to Late-Medinan — Confidence: High (95%).

Context & Events (Asbab al-Nuzul): These verses are the spiritual heart of the Surah and its most famous passage. After laying down the legal procedures for divorce, which can be a time of immense emotional and financial stress, Allah (SWT) provides the ultimate source of comfort and hope. The verses continue the instructions for the end of the waiting period: either reconcile on good terms (“retain them according to what is acceptable”) or separate in a just manner (“part with them according to what is acceptable”), and in either case, to call righteous witnesses. Then, embedded within this legal instruction, comes a universal, timeless promise for anyone who maintains Taqwa: “And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out (makhrajan) and will provide for him from where he does not expect.” This promise transformed the difficult process of divorce from a potential tragedy into a profound test of faith, with a guaranteed divine reward for those who navigate it piously.

Referenced Timeline: Contemporary Madinah, providing guidance for ongoing community life.

“And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.” (Qur’an 65:2-3)

• Primary evidence: The thematic content flows directly from the legal ruling in verse 1. The promises made here are the spiritual incentive to follow the difficult legal commands just given, which is a common structure in Qur’anic legislation.
• Classical tafsir: While some narrations link these verses to specific companions facing poverty, the overwhelming view of commentators like Al-Tabari is that the promise is general (‘aam). It applies to anyone who fears Allah in the matter of divorce and in all other affairs of life. The “way out” is from the distress of the situation, and the “provision” is both worldly and otherworldly. This has become one of the most quoted verses in the Qur’an on the topics of Taqwa and Tawakkul.

• Location/Context: Madinah.
• Primary Actors: The entire Muslim community, especially those undergoing divorce.
• Function in Narrative: To provide the spiritual motivation and divine promise of relief as a reward for adhering to God’s laws during the hardship of divorce.
• Evidence Level: High. The verse’s function as the spiritual core and incentive for the surrounding legal verses makes its context clear and integral to the Surah’s message.

🗓️ Verses 65:4-5 — The Legal Timetables: Rulings for Exceptional Cases

Estimated placement in timeline: Mid- to Late-Medinan — Confidence: High (95%).

Context & Events (Asbab al-Nuzul): After establishing the general rule for the waiting period (‘iddah) based on menstrual cycles, these verses were revealed to address specific, exceptional cases that the community would have faced. The companions asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about the waiting periods for women who did not menstruate. This included two groups: older, post-menopausal women (“those who have despaired of menstruation”) and very young women who had not yet begun to menstruate (“those who have not had menstruation”). This verse sets their waiting period at a clear three lunar months. The verse then addresses the most straightforward case: “as for those who are pregnant, their term is when they give birth.” This clarifies that a pregnant woman’s waiting period ends with the delivery of her child, regardless of how long or short that period is. Verse 5 reiterates that these are God’s commands and that following them leads to ease and great reward.

Referenced Timeline: Contemporary Madinah. This is a direct legislative response to questions from the community about specific legal scenarios.

• Primary evidence: The content is highly specific legal clarification, which is characteristic of the Medinan period where the foundations of Islamic jurisprudence were being laid in response to the community’s needs.
• Classical tafsir: Commentators mention that companions, such as Ubayy ibn Ka’b, asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about the waiting periods for these specific categories of women after the main divorce verses in Surah Al-Baqarah were revealed. This Surah, and this verse in particular, was revealed to provide the definitive answer to those questions.

• Location/Context: Madinah.
• Primary Actors: The Muslim community seeking legal clarification.
• Function in Narrative: To provide specific legal rulings for the waiting periods of women in exceptional circumstances, ensuring the comprehensiveness of the law.
• Evidence Level: High. The content is a direct answer to specific legal questions that would naturally arise from the general rules of divorce, indicating a responsive revelation to community needs.

🏠 Verses 65:6-7 — The Economics of Separation: The Rights of Housing and Maintenance

Estimated placement in timeline: Mid- to Late-Medinan — Confidence: High (95%).

Context & Events (Asbab al-Nuzul): These verses address the critical financial and logistical aspects of divorce, focusing on the rights of the woman. Verse 6 commands that the divorced woman must be housed during her waiting period in the same manner as the husband: “Lodge them [in a part] of where you dwell, according to your means.” This was a revolutionary concept, as it prevented a man from throwing his wife out immediately. It also forbids harassing her or making her living conditions difficult to pressure her into leaving. The verse then moves to the issue of maintenance, especially for a pregnant woman, stating that the husband must spend on her until she gives birth. If she then breastfeeds the child for him, he must pay her a fair wage. This establishes the principle of maternal compensation. Verse 7 sets the standard for all this financial support: it should be according to each person’s means. The wealthy man spends from his wealth, and the man of limited means spends from what Allah has given him. The verse concludes with another beautiful promise of hope: “Allah does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it. Allah will bring about, after hardship, ease.”

Referenced Timeline: Contemporary Madinah. This is a continuation of the family law legislation for the community.

“Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted – let him spend from what Allah has given him. Allah does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it. Allah will bring about, after hardship, ease.” (Qur’an 65:7)

• Primary evidence: The detailed nature of these financial and housing regulations is a clear indicator of a Medinan revelation, where the Qur’an was actively structuring the new Muslim society and solving its practical problems.
• Classical tafsir: Jurists and commentators have extensively discussed the details of these verses. For example, the debate around the rights of a woman in an irrevocable divorce (the third talaq) to housing and maintenance is based on hadith related to these verses, such as the famous case of Fatimah bint Qays. These verses form the bedrock of Islamic law regarding post-divorce financial obligations.

• Location/Context: Madinah.
• Primary Actors: Divorcing couples and the wider Muslim community.
• Function in Narrative: To legislate the financial rights of the divorced woman, including housing, maintenance, and nursing fees, ensuring her dignity and security.
• Evidence Level: High. These verses are a core part of the legal framework being established in the Surah and address practical issues that were of immediate concern to the Medinan community.

🏰 Verses 65:8-11 — The Ghost Towns of History: A Warning to Those Who Defy God’s Command

Estimated placement in timeline: Mid- to Late-Medinan — Confidence: High (95%).

Context & Events (Asbab al-Nuzul): After laying out the very specific and detailed laws of divorce, the Surah dramatically zooms out to a universal, historical perspective. This section serves as a powerful warning about the consequences of disobeying *any* of God’s commands. It asks the listener to consider the fate of the “many a city” that rebelled against the command of its Lord and His messengers. Their defiance led to a “severe accounting” and a “terrible punishment.” They tasted the “evil consequences of their affair,” and their ultimate end was “loss.” This historical reminder is then brought back to the present audience. Allah has now sent down a “reminder” (Dhikr)—the Messenger (ﷺ) reciting the clear verses—to bring people from “darkness into light.” The message is clear: the laws of divorce are not just social regulations; they are part of the same divine command structure that past nations were destroyed for defying.

Referenced Timeline: Distant History & The Contemporary Mission. The verses invoke the history of destroyed civilizations as a lesson for the people living during the Prophet’s (ﷺ) time.

• Primary evidence: The shift from specific legislation to a general historical warning is a common rhetorical device in the Qur’an to reinforce the importance of the laws just mentioned. This structure gives the Surah a powerful conclusion.
• Classical tafsir: Commentators explain that these verses serve as a warning (tahdhir) and an exhortation (targhib). The warning is in the fate of past nations, and the exhortation is in the description of the reward for those who believe and do good deeds, who will be brought from darkness into light and given an eternal reward.

• Location/Context: Madinah.
• Primary Actors: Past rebellious nations (as the example), the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), and the Muslim community (as the audience).
• Function in Narrative: To contextualize the specific laws of divorce within the universal principle of obedience to God and to warn of the consequences of defiance by citing historical precedent.
• Evidence Level: High. The section provides a fitting and powerful theological conclusion that elevates the specific legal rulings to the level of universal divine command.

🌌 Verse 65:12 — The Grand Design: Seven Heavens, and a Command That Descends Among Them

Estimated placement in timeline: Mid- to Late-Medinan — Confidence: High (95%).

Context & Events (Asbab al-Nuzul): The Surah concludes with a final, breathtaking statement of God’s absolute power and knowledge. After discussing His commands on earth and the history of nations, the final verse zooms out to the grandest possible scale: the structure of the cosmos. It declares that it is “Allah who created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them.” Then comes the crucial point: “His command descends among them.” This means that the same divine command (Amr) that governs the vastness of the seven heavens is the very same command that was revealed to regulate the intimate details of a divorce in Madinah. The purpose of this grand statement is then given: “that you may know that Allah is over all things competent and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge.” The Surah ends by perfectly circling back to the theme that underpins all law and all existence: God’s infinite Power and His all-encompassing Knowledge.

Referenced Timeline: The Beginning of Creation & The Continuous Present. It speaks of the creation of the cosmos and the ongoing descent of God’s command.

• Primary evidence: This verse provides a majestic, theological conclusion that summarizes the ultimate basis of all the preceding commands: the power and knowledge of Allah. This type of cosmological finale is a powerful Qur’anic rhetorical device.
• Classical tafsir: Commentators explain that the “command” (Amr) descending refers to His decrees, His providence, and His revelation, which all flow through His creation. The ultimate purpose of contemplating this vast creation is to arrive at the certainty of God’s two key attributes: absolute Power (Qudrah) and absolute Knowledge (‘Ilm), which are the necessary attributes for a lawgiver and a judge.

• Location/Context: Madinah.
• Primary Actors: Allah (SWT) as the Creator and Commander.
• Function in Narrative: To provide a final, awe-inspiring statement of God’s power and knowledge as the ultimate foundation for all His commands, connecting the laws of the earth to the order of the heavens.
• Evidence Level: High. This verse serves as a perfect theological capstone, providing the ultimate “why” for the “what” of the entire Surah’s legal and spiritual guidance.