Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And when you divorce women, and they have reached their term, then retain them according to what is fitting or release them according to what is fitting. And retain them not through harm, to transgress; and whoso does that has wronged himself. And take not the proofs of God in mockery; and remember the favour of God upon you, and what He has sent down to you of the Writ and wisdom whereby He admonishes you. And be in prudent fear of God, and know that God knows all things.

وَاِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ النِّسَٓاءَ فَبَلَغْنَ اَجَلَهُنَّ فَاَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ اَوْ سَرِّحُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍۖ وَلَا تُمْسِكُوهُنَّ ضِرَاراً لِتَعْتَدُواۚ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذٰلِكَ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۜ وَلَا تَتَّخِذُٓوا اٰيَاتِ اللّٰهِ هُزُواًۘ وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَٓا اَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ يَعِظُـكُمْ بِه۪ۜ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَاعْلَمُٓوا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَل۪يمٌ۟
Wa-itha tallaqtumu annisaafabalaghna ajalahunna faamsikoohunna bimaAAroofin aw sarrihoohunnabimaAAroofin wala tumsikoohunna diraranlitaAAtadoo waman yafAAal thalika faqad thalamanafsahu wala tattakhithoo ayati Allahihuzuwan wathkuroo niAAmata Allahi AAalaykumwama anzala AAalaykum mina alkitabi walhikmatiyaAAithukum bihi wattaqoo Allaha waAAlamooanna Allaha bikulli shay-in AAaleem
#wordmeaningroot
1wa-idhāAnd when
2ṭallaqtumuyou divorceطلق
3l-nisāathe womenنسو
4fabalaghnaand they reachبلغ
5ajalahunnatheir (waiting) termاجل
6fa-amsikūhunnathen retain themمسك
7bimaʿrūfinin a fair mannerعرف
8awor
9sarriḥūhunnarelease themسرح
10bimaʿrūfinin a fair mannerعرف
11walāAnd (do) not
12tum'sikūhunnaretain themمسك
13ḍirāran(to) hurtضرر
14litaʿtadūso that you transgressعدو
15wamanAnd whoever
16yafʿaldoesفعل
17dhālikathat
18faqadthen indeed
19ẓalamahe wrongedظلم
20nafsahuhimselfنفس
21walāAnd (do) not
22tattakhidhūtakeاخذ
23āyāti(the) Versesايي
24l-lahi(of) Allah
25huzuwan(in) jestهزا
26wa-udh'kurūand rememberذكر
27niʿ'mata(the) Favorsنعم
28l-lahi(of) Allah
29ʿalaykumupon you
30wamāand what
31anzala(is) revealedنزل
32ʿalaykumto you
33minaof
34l-kitābithe Bookكتب
35wal-ḥik'matiand [the] wisdomحكم
36yaʿiẓukumHe instructs youوعظ
37bihiwith it
38wa-ittaqūAnd fearوقي
39l-lahaAllah
40wa-iʿ'lamūand knowعلم
41annathat
42l-lahaAllah (is)
43bikulliof everyكلل
44shayinthingشيا
45ʿalīmunAll-Knowerعلم
  • Aisha Bewley

    When you divorce women and they are near the end of their ‘idda, then either retain them with correctness and courtesy or release them with correctness and courtesy. Do not retain them by force, thus overstepping the limits. Anyone who does that has wronged himself. Do not make a mockery of Allah’s Signs. Remember Allah’s blessing upon you and the Book and Wisdom He has sent down to you to admonish you. Have taqwa of Allah and know that Allah has knowledge of all things.

  • Progressive Muslims

    And if you have divorced the women, and they have reached their required interim period, then either you remain together equitably, or part ways equitably. And do not reconcile with them so you can harm them out of animosity; whoever does so is doing wickedness to his soul; and do not take God's revelations lightly. And remember God's blessings towards you, and what was sent down to you of the Scripture and the wisdom, He warns you with it. And be aware of God and know that God is Knowledgeable in all things.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    When you have divorced women, and they have completed their waiting period, then retain them in kindness or release them in kindness. You shall allow them to live in the same home amicably, or let them leave amicably. Do not force them to stay against their will, as revenge. Anyone who does this wrongs his own "Self". Do not make the Revelations of Allah a laughing stock. Remember Allah's Blessings upon you and the Book and Wisdom He has sent down to you in order to enlighten you. Be mindful of Allah's Commands and know that Allah is Aware of all things.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And when you divorce women, and they have reached their term, then retain them according to what is fitting or release them according to what is fitting. And retain them not through harm, to transgress; and whoso does that has wronged himself. And take not the proofs of God in mockery; and remember the favour of God upon you, and what He has sent down to you of the Writ and wisdom whereby He admonishes you. And be in prudent fear of God, and know that God knows all things.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And if you have divorced the women, and they have reached their required interim period, then either you remain together equitably, or part ways equitably. And do not reconcile with them so you can harm them out of animosity; whoever does so is doing wrong to his soul; and do not take the revelations of God as mockery. And remember the blessings of God upon you, and what was sent down to you of the Book and the wisdom, He warns you with it. And be aware of God and know that God is knowledgeable of all things.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    If you have divorced the women, and they have reached their required interim period, then either remain together equitably, or part ways equitably. Do not reconcile with them so you can harm them out of animosity. Whoever does so is doing wickedness to his person. Do not take God's signs lightly; remember God's blessings towards you, and what was sent down to you of the book and the wisdom, He warns you with it. Be conscientious of God and know that God is Knowledgeable in all things.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    If you divorce the women, once they fulfill their interim (three menstruations), you shall allow them to live in the same home amicably, or let them leave amicably. Do not force them to stay against their will, as a revenge. Anyone who does this wrongs his own soul. Do not take GOD's revelations in vain. Remember GOD's blessings upon you, and that He sent down to you the scripture and wisdom to enlighten you. You shall observe GOD, and know that GOD is aware of all things.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    When you have divorced your wives, and they have reached the end of the period of waiting, then keep them honourably (by revoking the divorce), or let them go with honour, and do not detain them with the intent of harassing lest you should transgress. He who does so will wrong himself. Do not mock the decrees of God, and remember the favours God has bestowed on you, and revealed to you the Book and the Law to warn you of the consequences of doing wrong. Have fear of God, and remember, God is cognisant of everything.

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

    And when you divorce women and they have fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or release them according to acceptable terms, and do not keep them, intending harm, to transgress . And whoever does that has certainly wronged himself. And do not take the verses of Allah in jest. And remember the favor of Allah upon you and what has been revealed to you of the Book and wisdom by which He instructs you. And fear Allah and know that Allah is Knowing of all things.

  • Muhammad Asad

    And so, when you divorce women and they are about to reach the end of their waiting-term, then either retain them in a fair manner or let them go in a fair manner. But do not retain them against their will in order to hurt : for he who does so sins indeed against himself. And do not take messages of God in a frivolous spirit; and remember the blessings with which God has graced you, and all the revelation and the wisdom which He has bestowed on you from on high in order to admonish you thereby; and remain conscious of God, and know that God has full knowledge of everything.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    When ye have divorced women, and they have reached their term, then retain them in kindness or release them in kindness. Retain them not to their hurt so that ye transgress (the limits). He who doeth that hath wronged his soul. Make not the revelations of Allah a laughing-stock (by your behaviour), but remember Allah's grace upon you and that which He hath revealed unto you of the Scripture and of wisdom, whereby He doth exhort you. Observe your duty to Allah and know that Allah is Aware of all things.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    And so, when you divorce women and they reach the end of their waiting term, then either retain them in a fair manner or let them go in a fair manner. And do not retain them to their hurt or by way of transgression; whosoever will do that will indeed wrong himself.* Do not take the Signs of Allah in jest and remember Allah’s favour upon you. He exhorts you to revere the Book and the Wisdom that He has sent down upon you.* Fear Allah, and know well that Allah has full knowledge of everything.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    When you have divorced women and they have fulfilled their determined period of waiting for three months and both of you are willing to reconcile, then you either reclaim them in equity and honour or free them in equity and honour. Do not reclaim them for a selfish end or spite them and he who acts in this manner will wrong himself. And do not mock Allah’s revelations and statutes, and render solemn acknowledgement of Allah’s divine favour conferred upon you and revere the Book He sent down to you and the knowledge and wisdom He imparted to you to caution you to commendable conduct, and revere Allah, and realise that Allah is 'Alimun of all.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    When you divorce your wife, and she finishes her (three menstruation) waiting period, let her live in your place with honor and in a God pleasing manner. Do not make the life miserable for her as this does not please the Lord. The one who commits such a cruelty is unjust to his own soul. Do not take the Lord’s laws in vain; remember the Lord’s favor in revealing this book of wisdom to you and know that He is aware of everything.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And when you have divorced women and they have fulfilled the term of their prescribed period, either take them back on reasonable basis or set them free on reasonable basis. But do not take them back to hurt them, and whoever does that, then he has wronged himself. And treat not the Verses (Laws) of Allâh as a jest, but remember Allâh’s Favours on you (i.e. Islâm), and that which He has sent down to you of the Book (i.e. the Qur’ân) and Al-Hikmah (the Prophet’s Sunnah - legal ways - Islâmic jurisprudence.) whereby He instructs you. And fear Allâh, and know that Allâh is All-Aware of everything.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    When ye divorce women, and they fulfil the term of their ('Iddat), either take them back on equitable terms or set them free on equitable terms; but do not take them back to injure them, (or) to take undue advantage; if any one does that; He wrongs his own soul. Do not treat Allah's Signs as a jest, but solemnly rehearse Allah's favours on you, and the fact that He sent down to you the Book and Wisdom, for your instruction. And fear Allah, and know that Allah is well acquainted with all things.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    When you divorce women and they have ˹almost˺ reached the end of their waiting period, either retain them honourably or let them go honourably. But do not retain them ˹only˺ to harm them ˹or˺ to take advantage ˹of them˺. Whoever does that surely wrongs his own soul. Do not take Allah’s revelations lightly. Remember Allah’s favours upon you as well as the Book and wisdom He has sent down for your guidance. Be mindful of Allah, and know that Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things.

  • Taqi Usmani

    When you have divorced women, and they have approached (the end of) their waiting periods, then, either retain them with fairness or release them with fairness. Do not retain them with wrongful intent, resulting in cruelty on your part, and whoever does this, actually wrongs himself. Do not take the verses of Allah in jest, and remember the grace of Allah on you and what He has revealed to you of the Book and the wisdom, giving you good counsel thereby, and fear Allah, and be sure that Allah is the One who knows everything.

  • Abdul Haleem

    When you divorce women and they have reached their set time, then either keep or release them in a fair manner. Do not hold on to them with intent to harm them and commit aggression: anyone who does this wrongs himself. Do not make a mockery of God’s revelations; remember the favour He blessed you with, and the Scripture and wisdom He sent to teach you. Be mindful of God and know that He has full knowledge of everything.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    When you divorce women, and they have reached their term, then retain them honourably or set them free honourably; do not retain them by force, to transgress; whoever does that has wronged himself. Take not God's signs in mockery, and remember God's blessing upon you, and the Book and the Wisdom He has sent down on you, to admonish you. And fear God, and know that God has knowledge of everything.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    When ye divorce women, and they have reached the prescribed time, then keep them kindly, or let them go in reason, but do not keep them by force to transgress; for whoso does that, he is unjust to his own soul: and do not take God's signs in jest; and remember God's favours to you, and what He has sent down to you of the Book and wisdom, to admonish you thereby; and fear God, and know that God doth all things know.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    When you divorce women, and they have reached the prescribed time, then keep them in kindness (or equity), or release them in kindness (or equity). but do not keep them by force to transgress; for whoever does that, he is unjust to his own soul: and do not make the revelations of Allah into a jest; but remember Allah's favours to you, and what He has sent down to you in the Book and Wisdom, to admonish you thereby; and observe your duty to Allah, and know that Allah is Aware of all things.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And when you have divorced women, (and) so they have reached their term, (i. e., cIddah, the term during which a divorced woman may not remarry) then retain them with you with beneficence or release them with beneficence; and do not retain them to their injury so that you transgress. (i.e., by obliging them to relinquish part or all of their dower to you) And whoever performs that, then he has already done injustice to himself; And do not take to yourselves the signs of Allah in mockery (among yourselves); and remember the favor of Allah upon you, and whatever He has sent down on you of the Book and (the) Wisdom to admonish you. And be pious to Allah, and know that Allah is Ever-Knowing of everything.

  • George Sale

    But when ye divorce women, and they have fulfilled their prescribed time, either retain them with humanity, or dismiss them with kindness; and retain them not by violence, so that ye transgress; for he who doth this, surely injureth his own soul. And make not the signs of God a jest: But remember God's favour towards you, and that he hath sent down unto you the book of the Koran, and wisdom, admonishing you thereby; and fear God, and know that God is omniscient.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And when you divorce women, and they fulfill the term of their waiting period (of three monthly courses), either take them back on just and fair terms or set them free on just and fair terms; But do not take them back to hurt them, (or) to take undue advantage (of them); If anyone does that, he wrongs his own soul. Do not treat Allah’s Signs lightly— But sincerely recite Allah’s favors on you, and the fact that He sent down to you the Book and Wisdom, for your instruction. And fear Allah and know that Allah is All Knowing (Aleem) of all things.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And when you divorce (your) women (a revocable divorce), and they approach the end of their `Iddat (-the prescribed period of waiting after divorce) then either retain them in an equitable manner or send them away (- freeing them) in an equitable manner. And do not retain them wrongfully that you may exceed the proper limits (and do them harm and maltreat them). And whosoever does that he has indeed done wrong and injustice to himself. Do not take Allâh's commandments in a light way; and remember Allâh's favour upon you and what He has revealed to you of the Book and the Wisdom, wherewith He exhorts you. And take Allâh as a shield and know that Allâh has perfect knowledge of everything.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    When you divorce women and they complete their term, then either retain them honourably or release them honourably, and do not retain them maliciously in order that you may transgress; and whoever does that certainly wrongs himself. Do not take the signs of Allah in derision, and remember Allah’s blessing upon you, and what He has sent down to you of the Book and wisdom, to advise you therewith. Be wary of Allah, and know that Allah has knowledge of all things.