Surah At-Talaq — Verse 6

Key Words and Their Meanings:

• "Min haythu sakantum" — from where you dwell, meaning in the same kind of accommodation you live in yourselves.
• "Min wujdikum" — according to your means and capacity; what you can afford without hardship.
• "La tudārrūhunna" — do not harm them or cause them distress.
• "Li-tudayyiqū 'alayhinna" — to make life narrow and difficult for them, pressuring them to leave.
• "Ūlāti ḥaml" — those who are pregnant.
• "Fa ātūhunna ujūrahunna" — give them their due payment/wages.
• "Wa'tamirū baynakum bi-ma'rūf" — consult and instruct one another in a fair, kind, and reasonable manner.
• "Ta'āsartum" — if you disagree or fall into conflict over the matter.

The Tafsir (Explanation):

O husbands who have divorced your wives, you are commanded to house them during their waiting period ('iddah) in a manner befitting your own dwelling — not in a place lesser than what you live in, and only according to your financial capacity. Allah does not burden a soul beyond what He has given it. And do not harm them, whether by word or deed, nor restrict their housing or provisions, hoping to make life so unbearable that they are forced to leave on their own. This is a stern prohibition against oppression in any form.

If the divorced woman is pregnant, then her maintenance — food, clothing, and shelter — remains your duty until she gives birth. Her care is not optional; it is a right she holds over you, for she carries your child.

And if she nurses your child after the divorce, then pay her fairly for her nursing. Do not withhold her due wages, nor belittle her effort. Let both of you — the father and the mother — consult each other with kindness and generosity, seeking what is best for the child and for both parties, without stubbornness or selfishness.

But if you cannot reach an agreement — if the father refuses to pay fairly or the mother refuses to nurse except with excessive demands — then the father may hire another woman to nurse the child. This is a practical, merciful solution that ensures the child's welfare is never compromised by parental conflict.

A Da'wah Reflection:

This verse is a living testament to the profound mercy and justice of Islam. Even in the most delicate and potentially tense moment — after divorce — Allah commands dignity, fairness, and compassion. The divorced woman is not cast out; she is housed, maintained, and respected. The child is not neglected; his care is guaranteed. And the father is not burdened beyond his means; he is only asked to give what he can afford.

Islam does not leave human relationships to chaos or cruelty. It builds a framework of rights and responsibilities that protect the weak, honor the vulnerable, and guide the strong. When you see such detailed, compassionate legislation revealed fourteen centuries ago, you realize that this is truly the word of the Creator, who knows exactly what is in our hearts and what we need to live in peace and justice.

So let every Muslim — whether a husband, a father, or a community member — reflect on these teachings and strive to embody them. For in following the guidance of Allah lies true success, tranquility, and the pleasure of our Lord. And what greater reward is there than the love and mercy of Allah, who says in His Book: "And whoever fears Allah — He will make for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect" (At-Talaq: 2-3).