Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

For those who forswear their women is a wait of four months; but if they return, then God is forgiving and merciful.

لِلَّذ۪ينَ يُؤْلُونَ مِنْ نِسَٓائِهِمْ تَرَبُّصُ اَرْبَعَةِ اَشْهُرٍۚ فَاِنْ فَٓاؤُ۫ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ غَفُورٌ رَح۪يمٌ
Lillatheena yu/loona min nisa-ihimtarabbusu arbaAAati ashhurin fa-in faoo fa-inna Allahaghafoorun raheem
#wordmeaningroot
1lilladhīnaFor those who
2yu'lūnaswear (off)الو
3minfrom
4nisāihimtheir wivesنسو
5tarabbuṣu(is a) waiting (of)ربص
6arbaʿatifourربع
7ashhurinmonthsشهر
8fa-inthen if
9fāūthey return فيا
10fa-innathen indeed
11l-lahaAllah
12ghafūrun(is) Oft-Forgivingغفر
13raḥīmunMost Mercifulرحم
  • Aisha Bewley

    Those who swear to abstain from sexual relations with their wives can wait for a period of up to four months. If they then retract their oath, Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

  • Progressive Muslims

    For those who are discontent with their wives, let them wait for four months. If they reconcile, then God is Forgiving, Most Merciful.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Men who take an oath that they will not approach their wives shall have four months of grace. And if they go back on their oath during these four months, behold, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (They must rethink their decision during this grace period and circumstances might change. Similar rules apply for women, since they have rights and obligations as men have, and since no man is permitted to forcibly keep his wife in wedlock against her will as stated later in the Book ((2:228), (4:19), (4:21), (4:34), (7:189)).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    For those who forswear their women is a wait of four months; but if they return, then God is forgiving and merciful.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    For those who abstain from their wives, they shall be given four months. If they cease, then God is Forgiving, Merciful.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    For those who are discontent with their wives, let them wait for four months. If they reconcile, then God is Forgiving, Compassionate.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Those who intend to divorce their wives shall wait four months (cooling off); if they change their minds and reconcile, then GOD is Forgiver, Merciful.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Those who swear to keep away from their wives (with intent of divorcing them) have four months of grace; then if they reconcile (during this period), surely God is forgiving and kind.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    For those who swear not to have sexual relations with their wives is a waiting time of four months, but if they return - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

  • Muhammad Asad

    Those who take an oath that they will not approach their wives shall have four months of grace; and if they go back -behold, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Those who forswear their wives must wait four months; then, if they change their mind, lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    For those who vow abstinence from their wives there is a respite of four months.* Then, if they go back on their vow they will find that Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate.*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    And those of you who make an oath to abstain from approaching your wives must not exceed four months. Should they reconcile with their own hearts and with Allah thereby resuming their normal relationship, they shall find Allah Ghafurun and Rahimun.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    If a man swears by God that he will not sleep with his wife any more, he has four month of separation (cooling off) period to make reconciliation. If he decides to take his wife back, God is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Those who take an oath not to have sexual relation with their wives must wait for four months, then if they return (change their idea in this period), verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    For those who take an oath for abstention from their wives, a waiting for four months is ordained; if then they return, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Those who swear not to have intercourse with their wives must wait for four months. If they change their mind, then Allah is certainly All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

  • Taqi Usmani

    Those who swear to abstain from their wives have four months of waiting. Therefore, if they revert back, Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful,

  • Abdul Haleem

    For those who swear that they will not approach their wives, there shall be a waiting period of four months:if they go back, remember God will be most forgiving and merciful,

  • Arthur John Arberry

    For those who forswear their women a wait of four months; if they revert, God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate;

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Those who swear off from their women, they must wait four months; but if they break their vow God is forgiving and merciful.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Those who take an oath of abstention from their wives, they must wait four months; but if they break their vow Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    For the ones who forswear their women (is) a wait of four months; so in case they concede, (i. e., if they change the minds) then surely Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.

  • George Sale

    They who vow to abstain from their wives, are allowed to wait four months: But if they go back from their vow, verily God is gracious and merciful;

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    For those who take an oath of abstention from their wives, a waiting for four months is approved; If then they return, surely, Allah is Often Forgiving (Ghafoor), Most Merciful (Raheem).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Those who vow (to abstain) from their wives, (the maximum) period of waiting (for them) is four months (after which divorce becomes inevitable), then if they (are reconciled within four months and) revert (to their normal relations), then, surely, Allâh is Great Protector, Ever Merciful.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    For those who forswear their wives shall be a waiting for four months. And if they recant, Allah is indeed all-forgiving, all-merciful.