Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 232

Mufti Taqi Usmani

When you have divorced women, and they have reached (the end of) their waiting period, do not prevent them from marrying their husbands when they mutually agree with fairness. Thus the advice is given to everyone of you who believes in Allah and in the Hereafter. This is more pure and clean for you. Allah knows and you do not know.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

When you have divorced women and they have reached the end of their waiting period, do not prevent them from re-marrying their ex-husbands if they come to an honourable agreement. This is enjoined on whoever has faith in Allah and the Last Day. This is purer and more dignifying for you. Allah knows and you do not know.

Ruwwad Translation Center

When you divorce women, and they have reached the end of their waiting period, do not prevent them from marrying their husbands if they mutually agree with fairness. This advice is for all among you who believe in Allah and the Last Day. This is better and purer for you. And Allah knows, and you do not know.

A. J. Arberry

When you divorce women, and they have reached their term, do not debar them from marrying their husbands, when they have agreed together honourably. That is an admonition for whoso of you believes in God and the Last Day; that is cleaner and purer for you; God knows, and you know not.

Abdul Haleem

When you divorce women and they have reached their set time, do not prevent them from remarrying their husbands if they both agree to do so in a fair manner. Let those of you who believe in God and the Last Day take this to heart: that is more wholesome and purer for you. God knows and you do not.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And when ye have divorced women and they have attained their period; straiten them not so that they wed not their husbands when they have agreed between themselves reputably; hereby is exhorted he among you who believeth in Allah and the Last Day: this is cleanest for you and purest. Allah knoweth and ye know not.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

When ye divorce women, and they fulfil the term of their ('Iddat), do not prevent them from marrying their (former) husbands, if they mutually agree on equitable terms. This instruction is for all amongst you, who believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is (the course Making for) most virtue and purity amongst you and Allah knows, and ye know not.

Abul Ala Maududi

When you have divorced your wives absolutely and they have completed their prescribed term, then you should not prevent them from marrying their prospective husbands, if they mutually agree to marry each other in a lawful way. You are enjoined not to commit such an offence, if you sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day. It is most decent and pure for you to desist from this; Allah knows and you do not know.

Ahmed Ali

When you have divorced your wives and they have completed the fixed term (of waiting), do not stop them from marrying other men if it is agreed between them honourably. This warning is for those among you who believe in God and the Last Day. This is both proper and right for you, for God knows and you do not know.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And when you have divorced women and they complete their waiting period – then O guardians of such women, do not prevent them from marrying their husbands if they agree between themselves in accordance with Islamic law; this lesson is for those among People who Believe in Allah and the Last Day; this is purer for you, and cleaner; and Allah knows and you do not know.

Ali Quli Qarai

When you divorce women and they complete their term, do not hinder them from [re]marrying their husbands, when they honourably reach mutual consent. Herewith are advised those of you who believe in Allah and the Last Day. That will be more decent and purer for you, and Allah knows and you do not know.

Ali Ünal

When you divorce women and they have reached the end of their waiting term, (then, you judges, and you who are guardians of either party,) do not debar them from marrying their (former) husbands, (and O former husbands of them), from marrying other men, if they have come to an agreement between them on equitable terms. This is an admonition to whoever among you truly believes in God and the Last Day; that is a cleaner and purer way for you. And God knows, and you do not know.

Amatul Rahman Omar

When (some of) you divorce (their) women (for the first or the second time) and they approach the end of the prescribed period of waiting (- `Iddat) then do not prevent them from remarrying their (former) husbands when they have agreed between themselves to an equitable and decent contract. This is an exhortation for those among you who believe in Allâh and the Last Day. This is more blissful for you and purer. And Allâh knows while you do not know.

English Literal

And if you divorced the women, so they reached their term/time , so do not confine/prevent/oppress them (F) that they marry their husbands/spouses, if they mutually agreed/accepted between them with the kindness/generosity , that is being advised/warned with it who was from you believing with God and the Day the Last/Resurrection Day, (and) that (is) more correct/commendable to you, and purer ,and God knows and you do not know.

Faridul Haque

And when you have divorced women and they complete their waiting period - then O guardians of such women, do not prevent them from marrying their husbands if they agree between themselves in accordance with Islamic law; this lesson is for those among People who Believe in Allah and the Last Day; this is purer for you, and cleaner; and Allah knows and you do not know.

Hamid S. Aziz

When you divorce women, and they have reached their prescribed term, do not put difficulties in their marrying their husbands, if it is agreed between them in kindness (or equity). This instruction is for all amongst you who believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is more pure for you and cleaner. But Allah knows, and you know not.

Hilali & Khan

And when you have divorced women and they have fulfilled the term of their prescribed period, do not prevent them from marrying their (former) husbands, if they mutually agree on reasonable basis. This (instruction) is an admonition for him among you who believes in Allah and the Last Day. That is more virtuous and purer for you. Allah knows and you know not.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And when you divorce women and they end their term, prevent them not from marrying their husbands if they agree among themselves in a lawful manner. With this is admonished he among you who believes in Allah and the Last Day. This is more profitable for you and purer. And Allah knows while you know not.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And when you have divorced women and they have ended-- their term (of waiting), then do not prevent them from marrying their husbands when they agree among themselves in a lawful manner; with this is admonished he among you who believes in Allah and the last day, this is more profitable and purer for you; and Allah knows while you do not know.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And when ye have divorced women and they reach their term, place not difficulties in the way of their marrying their husbands if it is agreed between them in kindness. This is an admonition for him among you who believeth in Allah and the Last Day. That is more virtuous for you, and cleaner. Allah knoweth; ye know not.

Muhammad Sarwar

When the waiting period of the divorced women has ended, you (her relatives) must not prevent them from marrying their (previous) husbands again if they might reach an honorable agreement. This is an advice for those of you who believe in God and the Day of Judgment. It is the most beneficial and pure way of treating each other. God knows but you do not know.

Qaribullah & Darwish

When you divorce women, and they have reached their term, do not restrain them from marrying their (future) husbands, when they have agreed together with kindness. That is an exhortation for whosoever of you believes in Allah and the Last Day. That is cleaner and purer for you. Allah knows, and you do not know.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And when you have divorced women and they have fulfilled the term of their prescribed period, do not prevent them from marrying their (former) husbands, if they mutually agree on reasonable basis. This (instruction) is an admonition for him among you who believes in Allah and the Last Day. That is more virtuous and purer for you. Allah knows and you know not.

Wahiduddin Khan

When you divorce women and they reach the end of their waiting period, do not prevent them from marrying other men, if they have come to an honourable agreement. This is enjoined on every one of you who believes in God and the Last Day; it is more wholesome and purer for you. God knows, but you do not know.

Talal Itani

When you divorce women, and they have reached their term, do not prevent them from marrying their husbands, provided they agree on fair terms. Thereby is advised whoever among you believes in God and the Last Day. That is better and more decent for you. God knows, and you do not know.

Tafsir jalalayn

When you divorce women, and they have reached, completed, their term, of waiting, do not debar them -- addressing the guardians here -- from marrying their, divorced, husbands when they, the male spouses and their women, have agreed together honourably, in accordance with the Law. The occasion for the revelation [of this verse] was; Ma`qil b. Yasr's sister was divorced by her husband, who then wanted to restore her, but Ma`qil refused, as reported by al-Hkim. That, the prohibition against debarring, is an admonition for whoever of you believe in God and the Last Day, because it is for the benefit of such a person; that, refraining from debarring, is purer for you, better, and cleaner, for you and for them, bearing in mind the suspicion that can be aroused by the couple on account of prior intimacy. God knows, what is in your interest, and you know not, any of this, so follow His commands.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Wali (Guardian) of the Divorced Woman should not prevent Her from going back to Her Husband

Allah says;

وَإِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ النِّسَاء فَبَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَ تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ أَن يَنكِحْنَ أَزْوَاجَهُنَّ إِذَا تَرَاضَوْاْ بَيْنَهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ


And when you have divorced women and they have fulfilled the term of their prescribed period, do not prevent them from marrying their (former) husbands, if they mutually agree on reasonable basis.
Ali bin Abu Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said,

"This Ayah was revealed about the man who divorces his wife once or twice and her Iddah finishes. He later thinks about taking her back in marriage and the woman also wishes that, yet, her family prevents her from remarrying him. Hence, Allah prohibited her family from preventing her."

Masruq, Ibrahim An-Nakhai, Az-Zuhri and Ad-Dahhak stated that this is the reason behind revealing the Ayah.

These statements clearly conform to the apparent meaning of the Ayah.
There is no Marriage without a Wali (for the Woman)
The Ayah (2;232) also indicates that the woman is not permitted to give herself in marriage. Rather, she requires a Wali (guardian such as her father, brother, adult son, and so forth) to give her away in marriage, as Ibn Jarir and At-Tirmidhi have stated when they mentioned this Ayah.

Also, a Hadith states that;

لَاا تُزَوِّجُ الْمَرْأةُ الْمَرْأَةَ ولَاا تُزَوِّج الْمَرأةُ نَفْسَهَا فَإِنَّ الزَّانِيَةَ هِيَ الَّتِي تُزَوِّجُ نَفْسَهَا
The woman does not give another woman away for marriage and the woman does not give herself away in marriage, for only the adulteress gives herself away for marriage.

Another Hadith states;

لَاا نِكَاحَ إلاَّ بِوَلِيَ مُرْشِدٍ وَشَاهِدَيْ عَدْل
No marriage is valid except with the participation of a mature Wali and two trustworthy witnesses.
The Reason behind revealing the Ayah (2;232)
It was reported that;
this Ayah was revealed about Ma`qil bin Yasar Al-Muzani and his sister.

Al-Bukhari reported in his Sahih, when he mentioned the Tafsir of this Ayah (2;232), that the husband of the sister of Ma`qil bin Yasar divorced her. He waited until her Iddah finished and then asked to remarry her, but Ma`qil refused. Then, this Ayah was sent down;
فَلَ تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ أَن يَنكِحْنَ أَزْوَاجَهُنَّ
(...do not prevent them from marrying their (former) husbands).
Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Abu Hatim, Ibn Jarir and Ibn Marduwyah and Al-Bayhaqi reported this Hadith from Al-Hasan from Ma`qil bin Yasar.

At-Tirmidhi rendered this Hadith authentic and in his narration, Ma`qil bin Yasar gave his sister in marriage for a Muslim man during the time of Allah's Messenger. She remained with him for a while and he divorced her once and did not take her back until her Iddah finished. They then wanted to get back with each other and he came to ask her for marriage.

Ma`qil said to him, "O ungrateful one! I honored you and married her to you but you divorced her. By Allah! She will never be returned to you."
But Allah knew his need for his wife and her need for her husband and He revealed;
وَإِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ النِّسَاء فَبَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ
(And when you have divorced women and they have fulfilled the term of their prescribed period) until He said;
وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
(...and you know not).
When Ma`qil heard the Ayah, he said, "I hear and obey my Lord."
He then summoned the man and said, "I will honor you and let you remarry (my sister)."
Ibn Marduwyah added (that Ma`qil said), "And will pay (the expiation) for breaking my vow."

Allah said;

ذَلِكَ يُوعَظُ بِهِ مَن كَانَ مِنكُمْ يُوْمِنُ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ
This (instruction) is an admonition for him among you who believes in Allah and the Last Day.

meaning, prohibiting you from preventing the women from marrying their ex-husbands, if they both agree to it.

مَن كَانَ مِنكُمْ
(among you),
O people,

يُوْمِنُ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ
(who believes in Allah and the Last Day) meaning,

believes in Allah's commandments and fears His warnings and the torment in the Hereafter.

Allah said;

ذَلِكُمْ أَزْكَى لَكُمْ وَأَطْهَرُ
That is more virtuous and purer for you.

meaning, obeying Allah's Law by returning the women to their ex-husbands, and abandoning your displeasure, is purer and cleaner for your hearts.

وَاللّهُ يَعْلَمُ

Allah knows,
the benefits you gain from what He commands and what He forbids.

وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ


and you know not.
the benefits in what you do or what you refrain from doing