Surah Baqarah Ayat 231 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 231
And when you divorce women and they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or release them according to acceptable terms, and do not keep them, intending harm, to transgress [against them]. And whoever does that has certainly wronged himself. And do not take the verses of Allah in jest. And remember the favor of Allah upon you and what has been revealed to you of the Book and wisdom by which He instructs you. And fear Allah and know that Allah is Knowing of all things.
“When ye divorce women, and they fulfil the term of their (‘Iddat), either take them back on equitable terms or set them free on equitable terms; but do not take them back to injure them, (or) to take undue advantage; if any one does that; He wrongs his own soul. Do not treat Allah’s Signs as a jest, but solemnly rehearse Allah’s favours on you, and the fact that He sent down to you the Book and Wisdom, for your instruction. And fear Allah, and know that Allah is well acquainted with all things.
And when you have divorced your wives and they are about to complete their prescribed term, then either retain them gracefully or release them generously. It is transgression to retain them merely for harassment; and whoever’ does that indeed wrongs his own self. Do not play with Allah’s Commandments, and remember that Allah has blessed you with a great favour. He admonishes you to show due respect to the Book and the Wisdom He has sent to you. Fear Allah and know that He is fully aware of everything.
And when you have divorced women and they have fulfilled the term of their prescribed period, either take them back on reasonable basis or set them free on reasonable basis. But do not take them back to hurt them, and whoever does that, then he has wronged himself. And treat not the Verses (Laws) of Allah as a jest, but remember Allah’s Favours on you (i.e. Islam), and that which He has sent down to you of the Book (i.e. the Quran) and Al-Hikmah (the Prophet’s Sunnah – legal ways – Islamic jurisprudence, etc.) whereby He instructs you. And fear Allah, and know that Allah is All-Aware of everything.
When ye have divorced women, and they have reached their term, then retain them in kindness or release them in kindness. Retain them not to their hurt so that ye transgress (the limits). He who doeth that hath wronged his soul. Make not the revelations of Allah a laughing-stock (by your behaviour), but remember Allah’s grace upon you and that which He hath revealed unto you of the Scripture and of wisdom, whereby He doth exhort you. Observe your duty to Allah and know that Allah is Aware of all things.
And when you have divorced women, (and) so they have reached their term, (i.e., cIddah, the term during which a divorced woman may not remarry) then retain them with you with beneficence or release them with beneficence; and do not retain them to their injury so that you transgress. (i.e., by obliging them to relinquish part or all of their dower to you) And whoever performs that, then he has already done injustice to himself; And do not take to yourselves the signs of Allah in mockery (among yourselves); and remember the favor of Allah upon you, and whatever He has sent down on you of the Book and (the) Wisdom to admonish you. And be pious to Allah, and know that Allah is Ever-Knowing of everything.
When you divorce women and they have reached their set time, then either keep or release them in a fair manner. Do not hold on to them with intent to harm them and commit aggression: anyone who does this wrongs himself. Do not make a mockery of God’s revelations; remember the favour He blessed you with, and the Scripture and wisdom He sent to teach you. Be mindful of God and know that He has full knowledge of everything.
جب تم عورتوں کو طلاق دو اور وه اپنی عدت ختم کرنے پر آئیں تو اب انہیں اچھی طرح بساؤ، یا بھلائی کے ساتھ الگ کردو اور انہیں تکلیف پہنچانے کی غرض سے ﻇلم وزیادتی کے لئے نہ روکو، جو شخص ایسا کرے اس نے اپنی جان پر ﻇلم کیا۔ تم اللہ کے احکام کو ہنسی کھیل نہ بناؤ اور اللہ کا احسان جو تم پر ہے یاد کرو اور جو کچھ کتاب وحکمت اس نے نازل فرمائی ہے جس سے تمہیں نصیحت کر رہا ہے، اسے بھی۔ اور اللہ تعالیٰ سے ڈرتے رہا کرو اور جان رکھو کہ اللہ تعالیٰ ہر چیز کو جانتا ہے
Quran 2 Verse 231 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Baqarah ayat 231, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(2:231) And so, when you divorce women and they reach the end of their waiting term, then either retain them in a fair manner or let them go in a fair manner. And do not retain them to their hurt or by way of transgression; whosoever will do that will indeed wrong himself.[254]
Do not take the Signs of Allah in jest and remember Allah’s favour upon you. He exhorts you to revere the Book and the Wisdom that He has sent down upon you.[255] Fear Allah, and know well that Allah has full knowledge of everything.
254. It is absolutely improper that a person should revoke the divorce he pronounced on his wife before the lapse of the period of waiting merely in order to use this revocation as a pretext to harass and torment her . God commands that if a person revokes the divorce this decision should be prompted by a sincere desire to live together amicably. Should that intention be lacking, it is better to part company in a graceful manner see further (Surah Al-Baqarah, ayat 229) note 250.
255. Muslims should not forget that by teaching them the Book and Wisdom, God entrusted them with the glorious task of guiding the world. They should also not forget that they were appointed the ‘community, of the middle way’ and appointed as witnesses to good and righteousness see (Surah Al-Baqarah, ayat 143). It does not become them, therefore, to indulge in sophistry and to play with the verses of the Book of God, to exploit the words of the Law to their advantage in achieving ends counter to its spirit, and to slump into injustice and other evil behaviour instead of directing the world to the Right Way.
Ibn-Kathir
The tafsir of Surah Baqarah verse 230 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Baqarah ayat 229 which provides the complete commentary from verse 229 through 230.
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