At-Talaq is not only the name of this Surah but also the title of its subject matter, for it contains commandments about Talaq (divorce) itself. Hadrat \`Abdullah bin Mas\`ud has described it as Surah an-Nisa al-qusra also, i.e. the shorter Surah an-Nisa.
Hadrat Abdullah bin Masud has Pointed out, and the internal evidence of the subject matter of the Surah confirms the same, that it must have been sent down after those verses of surah Al-Baqarah in which commandments concerning divorce were given for the first time. Although it is difficult to determine precisely what is its exact date of revelation, yet the traditions in any case indicate that when the people started making errors in understanding the commandments of Surah Al-Baqarah, and practically also they began to commit mistakes, Allah sent down these instructions for their correction.
In order to understand the commandments of this Surah, it would be useful to refresh one's memory about the instructions which have been given in the Qur'an concerning divorce and the waiting period (Iddat) above.
"Divorce may be pronounced twice; then the wife may either be kept back in fairness or allowed to separate in fairness." (Al Baqarah 229)
"And the divorced women (after the pronouncement of the divorce) must wait for three monthly courses... and their husbands are fully entitled to take them back (as their wives) during this waiting period, if they desire reconciliation." (Al Baqarah 228)
"Then, if the husband divorces his wife (for the third time), she shall not remain lawful for him after this divorce, unless she marries another husband..." (Al Baqarah 230)
"When you marry the believing women, and then divorce them before you have touched them, they do not have to fulfill a waiting period, the completion of which you may demand of them." (Al-Ahzab 49)
"And if those of you who die, leave wives behind, the women should abstain (from marriage) for four months and ten days." (Al Baqarah 234)
The rules prescribed in these verses were as follows:
A man can pronounce at the most three divorces on his wife.
In case the husband has pronounced one or two divorces he is entitled to keep the woman back as wife within the waiting period and if after the expiry of the waiting period the two desire to re-marry, they can re- marry there is no condition of legalization (tahlil). But if the husband has pronounced three divorces, he forfeits his right to keep her as his wife within the waiting. period, and they cannot re-marry unless the woman re-marries another husband and he subsequently divorces her of his own free will.
The waiting period of the woman, who menstruates and marriage with whom has been consummated, is that she should pass three monthly courses. The waiting period in case of one or two divorces is that the woman is still the legal wife of the husband and he can keep her back as his wife within the waiting period. But if the husband has pronounced three divorces, this waiting period cannot be taken advantage of for the purpose of reconciliation, but it is only meant to restrain the woman from re-marrying another person before it comes to an end.
There is no waiting. period for the woman, marriage with whom has not been consummated, and who is divorced even before she is touched. She can re-marry, if she likes, immediately after the divorce.
The waiting period of the woman whose husband dies, is four months and ten days.
Here, one should understand well that Surah At-Talaq was not sent down to annul any of these rules or amend it, but it was sent down for two purposes;
First, that the man who has been given the right to pronounce divorce should be taught such judicious methods of using this right as do not lead to separation, as far as possible however, if separation does take place, it should only be in case all possibilities of mutual reconciliation have been exhausted. For in the Divine Law provision for divorce has been made only as an unavoidable necessity; otherwise Allah does not approve that the marriage relationship that has been established between a man and a woman should ever break. The Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace) has said "Allah has not made lawful anything more hateful in His sight than divorce." (Abu Daud). And: "Of all the things permitted by the Law, the most hateful in the sight of Allah is the divorce, (Abu Daud)
The second object was to complement this section of the family law of Islam by supplying answers to the questions that had remained after the revelation of the commandments in Surah Al-Baqarah. So, answers have been supplied to the following questions:What would be the waiting period of the women, marriage with whom has been consummated and who no longer menstruate, or those who have not yet menstruated, in case they are divorced? What would be the waiting period of the woman, who is pregnant, or the woman whose husband dies, if she is divorced?And what arrangements would be made for the maintenance and lodging of the different categories of divorced women, and for the fosterage of the child whose parents have separated on account of a divorce?
En el nombre de Allah, el Misericordioso, el Compasivo.
¡Profeta! Cuando divorciéis a las mujeres, hacedlo de manera que estén en disposición de empezar su período de espera*. Guardad el período de espera y temed a Allah, vuestro Señor. No las hagáis salir de sus casas ni tampoco salgan ellas, a menos que hayan cometido una indecencia evidente. Éstos son los límites de Allah; quien traspase los límites de Allah, habrá sido injusto consigo mismo. Tú no sabes si Allah dispondrá otra cosa después.
Y cuando hayan alcanzado su período de espera, o bien os quedáis con ellas como es debido u os separáis de ellas como es debido*. Y haced que dos de vosotros, que sean rectos, sean testigos. Cumplid el testimonio por Allah. A eso se exhorta a quien crea en Allah y en el Último Día. Y quien teme a Allah, Él le da una salida.
Y le provee desde donde no lo espera. Quien se confía en Allah, Él le basta. Es cierto que la orden de Allah llega hasta donde Él quiere. Allah le ha dado a cada cosa un término y una medida.
Y aquellas de vuestras mujeres que hayan llegado a la menopausia, si dudáis de su período de espera, éste son tres meses, así como para la que aún no haya tenido la menstruación. Y las que estén embarazadas, su período de espera será hasta que den a luz. Quien teme a Allah, Él le dará facilidad en lo suyo.
Ése es Su Mandato, el que Allah ha hecho descender para vosotros. Y quien tema a Allah, Él le cubrirá sus maldades y le aumentará su recompensa.
Alojadlas donde os alojéis, según vuestros medios; y no las perjudiquéis haciéndoles pasar estrechez. Y si estuvieran embarazadas, ocuparos de su manutención hasta que den a luz. Y si dan de mamar a vuestros hijos*, dadles la remuneración que corresponda y llegad a un acuerdo entre vosotros como es debido. Y si tenéis dificultades, que amamante a su hijo otra.
Quien posea con holgura, que gaste de acuerdo a su holgura; y a quien se le haya dado una provisión restringida, que gaste de acuerdo a lo que Allah le haya dado. Allah no le impone a nadie sino en la medida de lo que le da. Allah da facilidad después de la dificultad.
A cuántas ciudades que desobedecieron la orden de su Señor y la de Sus Mensajeros, las hicimos rendir cuentas con dureza y las castigamos con un terrible castigo.
Gustaron las malas consecuencias de su actitud y su fin fue la perdición.
Allah les ha preparado un fuerte castigo. Así pues, temed a Allah, vosotros que sabéis reconocer lo esencial, vosotros que creéis. Allah ha hecho descender para vosotros un Recuerdo.
Un Mensajero que os lee los signos de Allah clarificados, para sacar a los que creen y practican las acciones de bien de las tinieblas a la luz. Y a quien crea en Allah y obre con rectitud le hará* entrar en jardines por cuyo suelo corren los ríos en los que será inmortal para siempre. Allah le habrá hecho buena la provisión.
Allah es Quien ha creado los siete cielos y otro tanto de Tierra. La orden desciende a través de ellos para que sepáis que Allah tiene poder sobre todas las cosas y que el conocimiento de Allah todo lo abarca.