The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

58. THE DISPUTE
A Medinan sura which disallows a specific pagan divorce practice: the sura
takes its title from the dispute referred to in verse 1 between a wife who had been
divorced in this manner and the Prophet. The sura supports the woman. It goes
on to state that those who oppose God and His messenger, who secretly ally
themselves with Satan, who lie in their oaths and make intrigues against the
Prophet, will be defeated and suffer humiliation both in this world and in
the next (verses 5 and 20), while those on God’s side will triumph (verse 22).
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 God has heard the words of the woman who disputed with you
[Prophet] about her husband and complained to God: God has heard
what you both had to say. He is all hearing, all seeing. 2 Even if any
of you say to their wives, ‘You are to me like my mother’s back,’ a
they are not their mothers; their only mothers are those who gave
birth to them. What they say is certainly blameworthy and false, but
God is pardoning and forgiving. 3 Those of you who say such a thing
to their wives, then go back on what they have said, must free a slave
before the couple may touch one another again––this is what you are
commanded to do, and God is fully aware of what you do––4 but
anyone who does not have the means should fast continuously for
two months before they touch each other, and anyone unable to do
this should feed sixty needy people. This is so that you may [truly]
have faith in God and His Messenger. These are the bounds set by
God: grievous torment awaits those who ignore them. 5 Those who
oppose God and His Messenger will be brought low, like those
before them: We have revealed clear messages, and humiliating
torment awaits those who ignore them, 6 on the Day when God will
raise everyone and make them aware of what they have done. God
has taken account of it all, though they may have forgotten: He
witnesses everything.
a The pagan Arabs used to separate themselves from their wives by saying, ‘You are
to me like my mother’s back,’ which deprived the wife of her marital rights, yet prevented
her from marrying again. Khawla, daughter of Thalaba, against whom such a
form of divorce was pronounced, complained to the Prophet and he said to her, ‘You are
unlawful to him now.’ This revelation came as a result, changing the rule about such
cruel treatment of wives (cf. 33: 4).