Surah 65 · Madinah · 12 āyāt

Phase 05 · Hijrah and the building of Madinah(1–5 AH) — view in timeline

Aṭ-ṬalāqThe Divorce

الطلاق

A short Madinan surah that legislates the details of divorce and the waiting period (ʿiddah) in the language of taqwā, not merely of law. It was revealed after Sūrat al-Baqarah had already set the broad rulings, and it tightens the procedure: how to count the ʿiddah, how to house and treat a woman during it, and how to conclude the matter with either honourable retention or honourable release. Running through the legal detail is a repeated promise — whoever is mindful of Allāh, He will make for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect. The surah closes by widening the lens from a single household ruling to the whole of creation, ending with Allāh's knowledge encompassing everything.

Why it was revealed

Some companions had divorced their wives in an impermissible manner (ṭalāq bidʿī) — for instance pronouncing divorce while the wife was menstruating, which prolongs and complicates her ʿiddah. The most cited occasion concerns ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar, who divorced his wife while she was menstruating; the Prophet ﷺ ordered him to take her back and wait until she was pure, then either keep her or divorce her before touching her, which is the prescribed manner meant by 'divorce them for their waiting period' in the opening āyah.

Drawn fromṢaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5251; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1471; Ibn Kathīr on 65:2–3; Ibn Kathīr on 65:4; Ibn Kathīr, introduction to Sūrat aṭ-Ṭalāq

Ibn ʿUmar reported that he divorced his wife while she was menstruating during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, and ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb asked the Prophet ﷺ about it. The Prophet ﷺ became angry and said: let him take her back, then keep her until she is pure, then menstruates again and becomes pure again; then if he wishes he may divorce her before touching her — that is the ʿiddah which Allāh commanded that women be divorced for.

Cited toṢaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5251; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1471; Ibn Kathīr, introduction to Sūrat aṭ-Ṭalāq

In the Prophet's ﷺ life

Guidancec. 1 AH or later · Age · Madinah

Ibn ʿUmar's divorce during menses

A valid but improper divorce prompted the Prophet ﷺ to correct the procedure and order revocation, fixing the meaning of 'their prescribed waiting period'.

Recalled in āyah 1

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ ۖ لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِنۢ بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَـٰحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ لَا تَدْرِى لَعَلَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًا

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 Allāh, 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] Allāh. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allāh has certainly wronged himself. You know not; perhaps Allāh will bring about after that a [different] matter.

  • Madd — 2 vowels
  • Madd — 2, 4 or 6 vowels
  • Madd — 6 vowels (lāzim)
  • Madd — 4 or 5 vowels (wājib)
  • Ghunnah — 2 vowels
  • Qalqalah
  • Ikhfāʾ
  • Ikhfāʾ shafawī
  • Idghām shafawī
  • Idghām with ghunnah
  • Idghām without ghunnah
  • Idghām mutajānisayn
  • Idghām mutaqāribayn
  • Iqlāb
  • Hamzat al-waṣl
  • Lām shamsiyyah
  • Silent letter

Tajwīd markup and colour convention: Quran.com API (v4) — text_uthmani_tajweed. Recitation audio: Quran.com / Quran Foundation Audio API (v4).

THEME 01Āyāt 1–3

Divorce governed by taqwā, not by anger

The Prophet ﷺ is addressed directly: when you divorce women, do so for the start of their waiting period and count it carefully; fear Allāh, do not expel them from their homes, and do not let them leave except for open indecency. When the term nears completion, either retain them honourably or separate honourably, with two just witnesses. Whoever fears Allāh, He will make for him a way out, and provide for him from where he does not expect.

Drawn fromAl-Saʿdī on 65:2–3; Ibn Kathīr on 65:1

1

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ ۖ لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِنۢ بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَـٰحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ لَا تَدْرِى لَعَلَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًا

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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 Allāh, 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] Allāh. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allāh has certainly wronged himself. You know not; perhaps Allāh will bring about after that a [different] matter.

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2

فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَأَشْهِدُوا۟ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَـٰدَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًا

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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] Allāh. That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And whoever fears Allāh - He will make for him a way out

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3

وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدْرًا

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And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allāh - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allāh will accomplish His purpose. Allāh has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.

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From the tafsīr

The command 'divorce them for their waiting period' is explained by the ḥadīth of Ibn ʿUmar: a woman should be divorced in a state of purity that has not been touched, so the ʿiddah can be counted cleanly from the start.

Cited toIbn Kathīr on 65:1

'A way out' and 'provision from where he does not expect' are stated in the middle of legal rulings on divorce, teaching that taqwā is the door to relief even in the most painful family matters.

Cited toAl-Saʿdī on 65:2–3

Key takeaways

Reflect

In a moment of anger or hurt, do you default to the most correct and dignified procedure, or the quickest one?

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Question 1 of 2

What does the ḥadīth of Ibn ʿUmar clarify about 65:1?

Question 2 of 2

According to al-Saʿdī, what is significant about the placement of 'a way out' and unexpected provision in 65:2–3?

THEME 02Āyāt 4–7

Special cases, and ease after hardship

For women past the age of menstruation, or who have not yet menstruated, the ʿiddah is three months; for the pregnant, it ends with delivery. Whoever fears Allāh is given ease in his affair. Maintenance is then apportioned by means: the wealthy spends from his wealth, and the one whose provision is restricted spends from what Allāh has given him, for Allāh does not burden a soul beyond what He has given it — and after hardship, Allāh will bring ease.

Drawn fromAl-Saʿdī on 65:7; Ibn Kathīr on 65:4

4

وَٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى يَئِسْنَ مِنَ ٱلْمَحِيضِ مِن نِّسَآئِكُمْ إِنِ ٱرْتَبْتُمْ فَعِدَّتُهُنَّ ثَلَـٰثَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى لَمْ يَحِضْنَ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰتُ ٱلْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ يُسْرًا

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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 Allāh - He will make for him of his matter ease.

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7

لِيُنفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍ مِّن سَعَتِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن قُدِرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُۥ فَلْيُنفِقْ مِمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَآ ءَاتَىٰهَا ۚ سَيَجْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بَعْدَ عُسْرٍ يُسْرًا

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Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted - let him spend from what Allāh has given him. Allāh does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it. Allāh will bring about, after hardship, ease [i.e., relief].

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From the tafsīr

These clarifications close gaps left by the general ʿiddah ruling of three menstrual cycles in Sūrat al-Baqarah, covering women for whom that measure does not apply.

Cited toIbn Kathīr on 65:4

Financial obligation is scaled to capacity, and the closing promise — ease after hardship — is stated as a general law of Allah's dealing with His servants, not only for divorce.

Cited toAl-Saʿdī on 65:7

Key takeaways

Reflect

Where in your life are you demanding of yourself, or others, beyond what has actually been given?

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0 / 2 correct

Answer from memory before scrolling back — retrieval is what makes it stick.

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Question 1 of 2

How does al-Saʿdī describe the promise 'Allāh will bring about, after hardship, ease' in 65:7?

Question 2 of 2

What is the ʿiddah of a pregnant woman according to 65:4?

THEME 03Āyāt 10–12

The Messenger who brings out of darkness, and the seven heavens

Allāh has sent a Messenger reciting clear verses, to bring those who believe and do righteous deeds out of darknesses into light, admitting them into gardens beneath which rivers flow forever. The surah then closes by naming the One who created seven heavens and their like of earth, His command descending between them, so that people may know His power and that His knowledge encompasses everything.

Drawn fromAl-Qurṭubī on 65:12; Ibn Kathīr on 65:11

11

رَّسُولًا يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ مُبَيِّنَـٰتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ وَيَعْمَلْ صَـٰلِحًا يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۖ قَدْ أَحْسَنَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ رِزْقًا

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[He sent] a Messenger [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] reciting to you the distinct verses of Allāh that He may bring out those who believe and do righteous deeds from darknesses into the light. And whoever believes in Allāh and does righteousness - He will admit him into gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein forever. Allāh will have perfected for him a provision.

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12

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَـٰوَٰتٍ وَمِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ ٱلْأَمْرُ بَيْنَهُنَّ لِتَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًۢا

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It is Allāh who has created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them. [His] command descends among them so you may know that Allāh is over all things competent and that Allāh has encompassed all things in knowledge.

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From the tafsīr

The recurring Qur'anic image of moving 'from darknesses to light' describes the effect of revelation and righteous deeds together, not belief alone.

Cited toIbn Kathīr on 65:11

Mentioning the seven heavens and the like of earth at the close of a surah about household law reframes the entire discussion: the One legislating divorce is the same One who governs the cosmos, so His rulings are not arbitrary.

Cited toAl-Qurṭubī on 65:12

Key takeaways

Reflect

Does your view of Allah's law feel as vast and deliberate as His creation of the heavens?

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Check yourself

0 / 2 correct

Answer from memory before scrolling back — retrieval is what makes it stick.

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Question 1 of 2

According to al-Qurṭubī, why does the surah close with the creation of seven heavens?

Question 2 of 2

What two things does 65:11 say the Messenger's recitation brings about together?

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VOCABULARY

Roots from this surah

Learn the three-letter root and you unlock every word built from it — across the whole Qur'an, not just this surah.

ع د د

āyāt 1, 4

to count, number

  • عِدَّةwaiting period
  • أَحْصُواkeep count
  • عَدَدnumber

و ق ي

āyāt 1, 2, 4, 5

to protect, be mindful of

  • ٱتَّقُواfear/be mindful
  • تَقْوَىٰGod-consciousness
  • وَاقٍprotector

خ ر ج

āyāt 1, 2, 8, 11

to exit, bring out

  • تُخْرِجُوهُنَّturn them out
  • مَخْرَجًاa way out
  • لِّيُخْرِجَthat He may bring out

ي س ر

āyāt 4, 7

to ease, be easy

  • يُسْرًاease
  • مُيَسَّرmade easy
  • يُسْرfacility

ح س ب

āyāt 3

to reckon, suffice

  • يَحْتَسِبُhe expects/reckons
  • حَسْبُهُsufficient for him
  • حِسَابreckoning

و ك ل

āyāt 3

to entrust, rely upon

  • يَتَوَكَّلْhe relies
  • وَكِيلtrustee, guardian
  • تَوَكُّلreliance

ن ف ق

āyāt 6, 7

to spend

  • لِيُنفِقْlet him spend
  • نَفَقَةexpenditure
  • مُنفِقone who spends

ظ ل م

āyāt 1, 11

darkness / wrongdoing

  • ظَلَمَhe wronged
  • ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِthe darknesses
  • ظَالِمwrongdoer

Carry this with you

  • Divorce, when it happens, is bound by procedure and dignity, not by anger.
  • Taqwā is presented as a practical door to a way out, not only a private virtue.
  • Allah provides from directions a person cannot calculate or predict.
  • The law anticipates hard cases — pregnancy, menopause, delayed menstruation — and does not leave them unanswered.
  • No one is obligated financially beyond what Allah has actually given them.
  • Hardship in the Qur'an is regularly followed by an explicit divine promise of ease.
  • Revelation's stated purpose is to move people from darkness into light through belief and righteous action together.
  • The One who legislates household law is the same One who created the seven heavens.

Where this surah connects

Cross-surah threads

Parts of the Qurʾān explain other parts. Each thread below opens the same subject as it is argued across every other surah you have studied, in revelation order.

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Sources behind Sūrah Aṭ-Ṭalāq

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Aṭ-Ṭalāq — full exam

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Aṭ-Ṭalāq · Special cases, and ease after hardship

How does al-Saʿdī describe the promise 'Allāh will bring about, after hardship, ease' in 65:7?

Arabic (Uthmānī script) and the Ṣaḥīḥ International translation are fetched live from the Quran.com API (v4), sourced from the King Fahd Complex muṣḥaf — api.quran.com API docs · Translation: Ṣaḥīḥ International · Integrity & testing protocol