Surah Baqarah Ayat 236 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 236
There is no blame upon you if you divorce women you have not touched nor specified for them an obligation. But give them [a gift of] compensation – the wealthy according to his capability and the poor according to his capability – a provision according to what is acceptable, a duty upon the doers of good.
“There is no blame on you if ye divorce women before consummation or the fixation of their dower; but bestow on them (A suitable gift), the wealthy according to his means, and the poor according to his means;- A gift of a reasonable amount is due from those who wish to do the right thing.
It is no sin if you divorce your wives while you have not yet touched them or fixed any dower for them. In such a case, pay them something anyhow. A rich man should pay fairly according to his means and a poor man according to his resources, for this is an obligation on the righteous people.
There is no sin on you, if you divorce women while yet you have not touched (had sexual relation with) them, nor appointed unto them their Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage). But bestow on them (a suitable gift), the rich according to his means, and the poor according to his means, a gift of reasonable amount is a duty on the doers of good.
It is no sin for you if ye divorce women while yet ye have not touched them, nor appointed unto them a portion. Provide for them, the rich according to his means, and the straitened according to his means, a fair provision. (This is) a bounden duty for those who do good.
There is no fault in you in case you divorce women as long as you have not touched them nor ordained any marriage-portion (Literally: an ordinance) for them; and allow for their (necessary) enjoyment, the affluent man according to his determined means, and the one in reduced circumstances (Literally: grudging “circumstances”) according to his determined means, an enjoyment with beneficence, a truly (binding) right on the fair-doers.
You will not be blamed if you divorce women when you have not yet consummated the marriage or fixed a bride-gift for them, but make fair provision for them, the rich according to his means and the poor according to his- this is a duty for those who do good.
اگر تم عورتوں کو بغیر ہاتھ لگائے اور بغیر مہر مقرر کئے طلاق دے دو تو بھی تم پر کوئی گناه نہیں، ہاں انہیں کچھ نہ کچھ فائده دو۔ خوشحال اپنے انداز سے اور تنگدست اپنی طاقت کے مطابق دستور کے مطابق اچھا فائده دے۔ بھلائی کرنے والوں پر یہ ﻻزم ہے
Quran 2 Verse 236 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Baqarah ayat 236, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(2:236) There is no blame upon you if you divorce your wives before you have touched them or settled a bridal gift upon them. But even in this case you should make some provision for them:[260] the affluent, according to his means; the straitened, according to his means – a provision in fair manner. That is a duty upon the good-doers.
260. This sundering of the matrimonial contract after it has been concluded does cause some harm to the woman; God has ordered, therefore, that the person concerned should compensate for the loss according to his capacity.
Ibn-Kathir
235. And there is no sin on you if you make a hint of betrothal or conceal it in yourself, Allah knows that you will remember them, but do not make a promise (of contract) with them in secret except that you speak an honorable saying. And do not be determined on the marriage bond until the term prescribed is fulfilled. And know that Allah knows what is in your minds, so fear Him. And know that Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.
Allah said:
(And there is no sin on you) meaning, to indirectly mention marriage to the widow during the term of `Iddah for her deceased husband. Ath-Thawri, Shu`bah and Jarir stated that Ibn `Abbas said:
(And there is no sin on you if you make a hint of betrothal) “means saying, `I want to marry and I am looking for a woman whose qualities are such and such,’ thus talking to her in general terms in a way that is better.” In another narration (by Ibn `Abbas), “Saying, `I wish that Allah endows me with a wife,’ but he should not make a direct marriage proposal.” Al-Bukhari reported that Ibn `Abbas said that the Ayah:
(And there is no sin on you if you make a hint of betrothal) means, “The man could say, `I wish to marry,’ `I desire a wife,’ or, `I wish I could find a good wife’.” Mujahid, Tawus, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Ash-Sha`bi, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Az-Zuhri, Yazid bin Qusayt, Muqatil bin Hayyan and Al-Qasim bin Muhammad and several others among the Salaf and the Imams said that one is allowed to mention marriage indirectly to the woman whose husband died. It is also allowed to indirectly mention marriage to a woman who had gone through final, irrevocable divorce. The Prophet ordered Fatimah bint Qays to remain in the house of Ibn Umm Maktum for `Iddah when her husband Abu `Amr bin Hafs divorced her for the third time. He said to her:
(Inform me when your `Iddah term ends.)
When she finished the `Iddah, Usamah bin Zayd, the Prophet’s freed slave asked to marry her, and the Prophet married her to him. As for the divorced wife (not irrevocably divorced), there is no disagreement that it is not allowed for other than her husband to mention marriage proposals to her directly or indirectly (before the `Iddah finishes). Allah knows best.
Allah said:
(…or conceal it in yourself,) meaning, if you hide the intention of seeking marriage with them. Similarly, Allah said:
(And your Lord knows what their breasts conceal, and what they reveal) (28:69) and:
(…while I am All-Aware of what you conceal and what you reveal.) (60: 1) So, Allah said here:
(Allah knows that you will remember them) meaning, in your hearts, so He made it easy for you. Allah then said:
(…but do not make a promise (of contract) with them in secret)
`Ali bin Abu Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said that
(but do not make a promise (of contract) with them in secret) means do not say to her, “I am in love (with you),” or, “Promise me you will not marry someone else (after the `Iddah finishes),” and so forth. Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ash-Sha`bi, `Ikrimah, Abu Ad-Duha, Ad-Dahhak, Az-Zuhri, Mujahid and Ath-Thawri said that it (meaning of the Ayah) means taking the woman’s promise not to marry someone else.
Afterwards, Allah said:
(…except that you speak an honorable saying.)
Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, As-Suddi, Ath-Thawri and Ibn Zayd said that the Ayah means to indirectly refer to marriage, such as saying, “I desire someone like you.” Muhammad bin Sirin said: I asked `Ubaydah about the meaning of Allah’s statement:
(. ..except that you speak an honorable saying.) He said, “He says to her Wali, `Do not give her away (in marriage) until you inform me first’.” This statement was narrated by Ibn Abu Hatim.
Allah then said:
(And do not be determined on the marriage bond until the term prescribed is fulfilled.) meaning, do not make marriage contracts before the `Iddah finishes. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ash-Sha`bi, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Abu Malik, Zayd bin Aslam, Muqatil bin Hayyan, Az-Zuhri, `Ata’ Al-Khurasani, As-Suddi, Ath-Thawri and Ad-Dahhak said that:
(until the term prescribed is fulfilled.) means, `Do not consummate the marriage before the `Iddah term finishes.’ The scholars agree that marriage contracts during the `Iddah are invalid.
Allah then said:
(And know that Allah knows what is in your minds, so fear Him.) warning the men against the ideas they conceal in their hearts about women, directing them to think good about them rather than the evil, and Allah would not let them despair of His mercy, as He said:
(And know that Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.)
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