Surah At-Talaq (الطلاق) is a Medinan surah of the Quran with 12 verses. Read, listen and memorize this surah with our interactive tools.
Updated on 07 March 2026 at 4:16 PM
📖 3 min readThe cause of doubt regarding the waiting period for pregnant women in the statement {for three months} is that each month takes the place of a menstrual cycle, because most women menstruate once a month. After completing the discussion of those who menstruate, indicating and stating {and for those who do not menstruate}, meaning due to their young age or because they do not menstruate at all, even if they are of age, their waiting period is also three months. This indicates that the waiting period for those who menstruate, whether they are divorced or not, is three menstrual cycles, as previously mentioned in {الْبَقَرَة}. Since these months are a substitute for the menstrual cycles, the waiting period is either the time between two menstrual cycles or the time between divorce and menstruation, all of which applies to the divorced woman. However, for the woman whose husband has passed away, the waiting period is four months and ten days, as mentioned in {الْبَقَرَة}. After discussing the waiting period for pregnant women, the Quran proceeds to mention them, stating {and for those who are pregnant}, referring to all Muslim and non-Muslim wives, divorced under any circumstances, and those whose husbands have passed away, as long as the pregnancy is from a Muslim husband. The waiting period for them {until they lay down their burdens}, whether they menstruate or not, and since the birth of the child eliminates any confusion, and the plural form might suggest that none of them are allowed to remarry until all of them give birth, it is clarified that
And He expands something other than it, for a matter among the matters by which Allah demonstrates the weakness of the servants, as a mercy to them, to refine their souls with it. He constructed the effect as a teaching of etiquette with Him, may He be exalted and glorified, saying: {So let him spend}, meaning it is obligatory upon the one who is suckling and others, for everything that Allah has obligated upon him or encouraged him towards. And Allah, may He be exalted and glorified, gave good tidings that He will not deprive anyone of anything they are doing as long as they are alive, by saying, indicating by the partialness that what He has obligated does not encompass what He has given: {from what Allah has given him}, meaning the King who does not exhaust what He has, nor is there a limit to His generosity, even if it is from the capital, or the follower of the house, or from the price of the estate, if he does not have any yield from it, because He, may He be exalted and glorified, has guaranteed the continuation. And whoever possesses what is sufficient for him at the time, then concerns himself with increase for tomorrow, that is a concern that is not pleasing. And its companion is not pleasant. And in this, there is guidance to follow the example of the Prophet, may Allah's peace be upon him, in not forcing oneself and in ease in every matter according to the times. And since Allah, may He be exalted, has the obligation of what cannot be borne, He informed that He has mercy upon the servants by not doing it, so He said, explaining or starting an answer to one who says: So what does one do who does not have anything existing initially, beloved in his religion, may Allah's peace be upon him, from the ease that is in it: {Allah does not charge a soul} , meaning the One who has perfection with the attributes of mercy and bestowal upon us by alleviation {except [with that] which He has given it}, and perhaps it implies that whoever is obligated to spend, finds from the excess of what he has, what suffices him from the noble effects.
The punishments, for among the people is the dull-witted who does not take heed from what he sees. And the decree was: So, how many people were in extreme distress, then they obeyed Our commands, so We made them in extreme ease, rather, We made them kings. This is a rebuke to him, warning against indulgence in luxury, as it often leads to transgression, and a threat to the people of disobedience, His statement, informing of the numerous towns that exceeded the limits: {And how many a town} - meaning a large city, populous and thriving - He described its people by it, as an exaggeration {was insolent} - meaning, it rebelled and exceeded the limits in its disobedience and transgression, and turned away in defiance {from the command of its Lord} - meaning, the One who bestowed favors upon it, and none bestowed favors upon it except Him, with abundant provision, good life, kindness in upbringing, mercy after creation, and dominion. {And His messengers} - for they did not accept from them what they brought from Allah, as their obedience is from the obedience to Allah. And since the reckoning of the likes of these is for destruction, because the reckoning is the mention of deeds and the recompense for them with what is fitting for each, He said, turning to the station of speaking in the manifestation of greatness: {So We took them to account} - meaning, their lack of gratitude for the favors led to Our reckoning of their deeds. And since this was in the form of a discussion, with recompense on the basis of every action, He said: {a severe accounting} - meaning, the mention of all deeds and the recompense for them, and this is the reality.
And since the Messenger, may God's blessings be upon him, was the embodiment of the Quran, the Quran was his inner reality, while he was its outward manifestation, for he was created such that not a word or deed of his was without it. Thus, he was as if he were it. He substituted his statement with 'Messenger' {رسولاً}, although the matter is obscure in terms of interpretation. For 'mention' (dhikr), with the 'dhal' pronounced with a kasrah, as in the dictionary among men, refers to a strong and courageous father. Then, he clarified that he was a 'mention' by saying {يتلوا}, meaning that he followed and recounted {عليكم آيات الله}, which are the signs of the Great King, the One of Majesty and Honor, who is clearly manifest, given that they are {مبينات}, meaning there is no ambiguity in them whatsoever.
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يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ ۖ لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِنۢ بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَـٰحِشَةٍۢ مُّبَيِّنَةٍۢ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ لَا تَدْرِى لَعَلَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًۭا ﴿١﴾
O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period and keep count of the waiting period, and fear Allah, your Lord. Do not turn them out of their [husbands'] houses, nor should they [themselves] leave [during that period] unless they are committing a clear immorality. And those are the limits [set by] Allah. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah has certainly wronged himself. You know not; perhaps Allah will bring about after that a [different] matter.
فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍۢ وَأَشْهِدُوا۟ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍۢ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَـٰدَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًۭا ﴿٢﴾
And when they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or part with them according to acceptable terms. And bring to witness two just men from among you and establish the testimony for [the acceptance of] Allah. That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allah and the Last day. And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out
وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدْرًۭا ﴿٣﴾
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.
وَٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى يَئِسْنَ مِنَ ٱلْمَحِيضِ مِن نِّسَآئِكُمْ إِنِ ٱرْتَبْتُمْ فَعِدَّتُهُنَّ ثَلَـٰثَةُ أَشْهُرٍۢ وَٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى لَمْ يَحِضْنَ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰتُ ٱلْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ يُسْرًۭا ﴿٤﴾
And those who no longer expect menstruation among your women - if you doubt, then their period is three months, and [also for] those who have not menstruated. And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth. And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him of his matter ease.
ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ أَنزَلَهُۥٓ إِلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يُكَفِّرْ عَنْهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِۦ وَيُعْظِمْ لَهُۥٓ أَجْرًا ﴿٥﴾
That is the command of Allah, which He has sent down to you; and whoever fears Allah - He will remove for him his misdeeds and make great for him his reward.
أَسْكِنُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ سَكَنتُم مِّن وُجْدِكُمْ وَلَا تُضَآرُّوهُنَّ لِتُضَيِّقُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن كُنَّ أُو۟لَـٰتِ حَمْلٍۢ فَأَنفِقُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ ۚ فَإِنْ أَرْضَعْنَ لَكُمْ فَـَٔاتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ ۖ وَأْتَمِرُوا۟ بَيْنَكُم بِمَعْرُوفٍۢ ۖ وَإِن تَعَاسَرْتُمْ فَسَتُرْضِعُ لَهُۥٓ أُخْرَىٰ ﴿٦﴾
Lodge them [in a section] of where you dwell out of your means and do not harm them in order to oppress them. And if they should be pregnant, then spend on them until they give birth. And if they breastfeed for you, then give them their payment and confer among yourselves in the acceptable way; but if you are in discord, then there may breastfeed for the father another woman.
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 ﴿٧﴾
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.
وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ عَتَتْ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهَا وَرُسُلِهِۦ فَحَاسَبْنَـٰهَا حِسَابًۭا شَدِيدًۭا وَعَذَّبْنَـٰهَا عَذَابًۭا نُّكْرًۭا ﴿٨﴾
And how many a city was insolent toward the command of its Lord and His messengers, so We took it to severe account and punished it with a terrible punishment.
فَذَاقَتْ وَبَالَ أَمْرِهَا وَكَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ أَمْرِهَا خُسْرًا ﴿٩﴾
And it tasted the bad consequence of its affair, and the outcome of its affair was loss.
أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ عَذَابًۭا شَدِيدًۭا ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ يَـٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۚ قَدْ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكُمْ ذِكْرًۭا ﴿١٠﴾
Allah has prepared for them a severe punishment; so fear Allah, O you of understanding who have believed. Allah has sent down to you the Qur'an.
رَّسُولًۭا يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ مُبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ لِّيُخْرِجَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ وَيَعْمَلْ صَـٰلِحًۭا يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًۭا ۖ قَدْ أَحْسَنَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ رِزْقًا ﴿١١﴾
[He sent] a Messenger [Muhammad] reciting to you the distinct verses of Allah that He may bring out those who believe and do righteous deeds from darknesses into the light. And whoever believes in Allah and does righteousness - He will admit him into gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein forever. Allah will have perfected for him a provision.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَـٰوَٰتٍۢ وَمِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ ٱلْأَمْرُ بَيْنَهُنَّ لِتَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًۢا ﴿١٢﴾
It is Allah who has created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them. [His] command descends among them so you may know that Allah is over all things competent and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge.