Sūrah Aṭ-Ṭalāq Divorce
الطلاق
12 verses, Madanī. The detailed rulings of divorce pronounce it at the beginning of the waiting period, not during menstruation, and keep count. Do not expel women from their homes during ʿiddah. Those who fear Allah He makes a way out and provides from where they do not expect. The seven heavens and seven earths.
Surah Overview
Key Themes from Ibn Kathīr
The tawakkul verse in a divorce context (65:2–3): "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 He is sufficient for him. Indeed Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a decreed extent." Ibn Kathīr: this verse came in a legal context about divorce but its scope is universal. Every difficulty has a divinely prepared exit for the one who maintains taqwā.
Do not make the ʿiddah difficult (65:6): "House them where you dwell, out of your means, and do not harm them in order to oppress them. And if they are pregnant, spend on them until they give birth." Ibn Kathīr: the divorced wife's rights she must be housed, maintained, and treated without hostility. Oppression of a divorced wife during ʿiddah is a sin clearly condemned by the Qurʾān.
- Divorce timing the Sunnī ṭalāq (65:1): "O Prophet when you divorce women, divorce them for their waiting period and keep count of the waiting period." Ibn Kathīr: the Sunnī divorce is pronounced when the wife is in a state of purity (ṭuhr) in which she has not been touched this starts a clean, countable ʿiddah. The bidʿī divorce (during menstruation or in a ṭuhr after intercourse) is forbidden.
- Two just witnesses at the end of ʿiddah (65:2): "When they have fulfilled their term, either retain them with kindness or part from them with kindness, and bring to witness two just men from among you." Ibn Kathīr: witnesses required for the final decision divorce or reconciliation to prevent manipulation and ensure the woman's rights are protected.
- Post-divorce breastfeeding arrangement (65:6): If a nursing woman is divorced, her husband pays her for nursing. If they cannot agree, another woman may nurse the child. Ibn Kathīr: the child's right supersedes marital conflict practical rulings ensure no innocent party suffers from a marriage's breakdown.
- Obey Allah and His Messenger (65:11): "A Messenger who recites to you the distinct verses of Allah to bring out those who believe and do righteous deeds from darkness into light." Ibn Kathīr: the Prophet ﷺ as the messenger of light every ruling of Sūrah aṭ-Ṭalāq, even the most detailed fiqh, is part of this light that liberates from darkness.
- The seven earths (65:12): Ibn Kathīr cites the ḥadīth: "The seven earths whoever takes a hand-span of earth unjustly will have it put around his neck through seven earths on the Day of Resurrection." He notes that "seven earths" is confirmed by ḥadīth whether they are stacked layers or seven distinct earth-planes.