Al-Baqarah · Madani · ayah 237 of 286

Al-Baqarah 2:237

وَإِن طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ وَقَدْ فَرَضْتُمْ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً فَنِصْفُ مَا فَرَضْتُمْ إِلَّآ أَن يَعْفُونَ أَوْ يَعْفُوَا۟ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِۦ عُقْدَةُ ٱلنِّكَاحِ ۚ وَأَن تَعْفُوٓا۟ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَلَا تَنسَوُا۟ ٱلْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

“And if you divorce them before you have touched them and you have already specified for them an obligation, then [give] half of what you specified - unless they forego the right or the one in whose hand is the marriage contract foregoes it. And to forego it is nearer to righteousness. And do not forget graciousness between you. Indeed Allāh, of whatever you do, is Seeing.”

Saheeh International

Essence

Half is what is owed, but forgoing is nearer to mindfulness of Allah: in every parting, do not forget the graciousness between you.

A reflection

He sees past the arithmetic

After a cancelled wedding, two fathers argue for three weeks over a set of gold jewellery. Each has a receipt. Each has a principle. Neither has slept well since it began.

The ayah sets out exactly what is owed in such a case: half of what was named as the bridal gift. It is precise, as law must be. Then it does something law rarely does. It urges both sides to go beyond the precise. And it ends: 'Allah sees what you do'.

A modern commentary explains why that name closes the ayah. He sees, encouraging you to do what is good and urging you towards graciousness. The seeing is not only a warning. It is an invitation to be seen doing better than the minimum.

The root of baṣīr has two pictures. A newborn pup opening its eyes for the first time, and a hunter reading a trail of blood. Sight that sees, and sight that understands. Allah sees the jewellery, and He sees the pride wrapped around it.

The ego loves arithmetic. It feels safe when every share is calculated and every half is defended. It can hide behind fairness long after fairness has turned into stubbornness. The ayah does not abolish the arithmetic. It simply reminds the arithmetician Who is watching, and what He hopes to see.

Does Allah need to remind us that He sees? He is the Free of need (35:15). We need it. When the receipts are on the table, it is easy to forget there is a Witness who rewards those who let go.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.