10/22/2026
Surah Al-Baqarah (Chapter 2), verses 228–230, discussing divorce, the rights of husbands and wives, and the rules for reconciliation and remarriage.
Verse 228 — Rights and responsibilities of husband and wife
Divorced women should wait for three menstrual cycles before remarrying. They should not conceal what Allah has created in their wombs if they believe in Allah and the Last Day.
If reconciliation is desired, their husbands have a right to take them back during this waiting period, provided they genuinely intend to make things right.
Women have rights similar to the obligations they have, according to what is fair and reasonable, although men have a degree of responsibility over them. Allah is Almighty and Wise.
Verse 229 — Divorce and reconciliation
Divorce that allows reconciliation is twice. After that, a husband must either retain his wife in a fair and honourable manner or release her with kindness.
It is not lawful for a husband to take back what he has given his wife, such as her bridal gift (mahr), except in the circumstances permitted by Islamic law, including when both fear that they cannot maintain Allah's limits.
If there is a genuine fear that the couple cannot fulfil their responsibilities towards each other, the wife may seek separation by returning compensation, subject to the rules of Islamic law.
Whoever transgresses Allah's limits does wrong.
Verse 230 — After the third divorce
If a husband divorces his wife for the third time, she is no longer lawful for him to remarry unless she subsequently marries another man in a genuine marriage, and that marriage later ends.
If the second marriage ends, the former couple may marry again if they believe they can observe Allah's limits.
Important: This verse does not permit a planned or temporary marriage merely to make a woman lawful again for her first husband. Such an arrangement is prohibited in Islamic teachings.
The central message of these verses: Islam places importance on fairness, dignity, and responsibility in marriage and divorce. A husband must not use divorce to repeatedly hurt or control his wife, and neither spouse should violate the rights Allah has established.