وَإِنْ عَزَمُوا۟ ٱلطَّلَـٰقَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ 227
Translations
And if they decide on divorce - then indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
Transliteration
Wa in 'azamū al-ṭalāqa fa-inna Allāha samī'un 'alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the passage on the waiting period (iddah) of divorced women, affirming that if husbands are determined to proceed with divorce, Allah is All-Hearing and All-Knowing of their intentions and actions. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as emphasizing divine omniscience regarding the sincerity or insincerity of the husband's resolve, suggesting that Allah's knowledge encompasses both the outward declaration and the hidden intentions behind the divorce pronouncement.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the detailed regulations on divorce revealed in Madinah (2:226-232), addressing the practice of 'ilā' (oath of abstinence from marital relations). The context deals with husbands who swear to abstain from their wives and the waiting period before divorce becomes final, reflecting the Qur'an's comprehensive guidance on family law and marital disputes in the Islamic community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most disliked of permissible things to Allah is divorce' (Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, Umar ibn al-Khattab reported that the Prophet discouraged hasty divorces and emphasized careful consideration (Musnad Ahmad).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah's perfect knowledge encompasses both our outward actions and inner intentions, encouraging sincere reconsideration before taking irreversible decisions like divorce, which affects families and communities. It underscores that no decision is hidden from Allah, promoting accountability and thoughtfulness in matters of grave personal consequence.
Related Ayahs
أَلَآ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَيَوْمَ يُرْجَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۢ
Unquestionably, to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. Already He knows that upon which you [stand] and [knows] the Day when they will be returned to Him and He will inform them of what they have done. And Allāh is Knowing of all things.
قَدْ سَمِعَ ٱللَّهُ قَوْلَ ٱلَّتِى تُجَـٰدِلُكَ فِى زَوْجِهَا وَتَشْتَكِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ يَسْمَعُ تَحَاوُرَكُمَآ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
Certainly has Allāh heard the speech of the one who argues [i.e., pleads] with you, [O Muḥammad], concerning her husband and directs her complaint to Allāh. And Allāh hears your dialogue; indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَسْتَمِعُونَ بِهِۦٓ إِذْ يَسْتَمِعُونَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِذْ هُمْ نَجْوَىٰٓ إِذْ يَقُولُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا رَجُلًا مَّسْحُورًا
We are most knowing of how they listen to it when they listen to you and [of] when they are in private conversation, when the wrongdoers say, "You follow not but a man affected by magic."
وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَٱدَّٰرَْٰٔتُمْ فِيهَا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَّا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ
And [recall] when you slew a man and disputed over it, but Allāh was to bring out that which you were concealing.