In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Extract from QUR’AANIC
STUDIES – A Modern Tafsir PART I:
228. Waalmutallaqatu yatarabbasna
bi-anfusihinna thalathata quroo-in wala yahillu lahunna an
yaktumna ma khalaqa Allahu fee arhamihinna in kunna
yu/minna biAllahi waalyawmi al-akhiri wabuAAoolatuhunna ahaqqu
biraddihinna fee thalika in aradoo islahan
walahunna mithlu allathee AAalayhinna bialmaAAroofi walilrrijali AAalayhinna
darajatun waAllahu AAazeezun hakeemun
2:228. And the divorced women
should wait for three menstruations. And it is not proper for them to hide what
Allah has created in their wombs if they do believe in Allah and in the Last
Day. And their husbands have the authority to take them back during that
period, if they desire reconciliation.426 And the women have rights
just as they have obligations upon them, in fair measure. And for men, a rank
above them.427 to 429 And Allah is Omnipotent, Wise.430, 431
426.
Allah has explained here the purpose of the waiting period prescribed. It is to
ascertain whether the divorced woman is pregnant, so that the parentage of the
child is determined. And if the woman happens to be pregnant, it may as well be
that because of the unborn child – a bond between the woman and her husband –
the two may get inclined towards reconciliation. The husband has been given the
authority to resume conjugal relations with the woman before the expiry of the
prescribed period. And thus, the separation of the couple can be averted
despite pronouncement of divorce. It may thus be observed that in the divine
scheme of things, doors are kept ajar for possible reconciliation. The Merciful
Allah desires that married couples do not get separated on flimsy grounds.
427. In the modern age, everyone tends to harp on
equality between the sexes. Otherwise, he is likely to be branded as one
prejudiced against women. But, for Allah, there is no question of hiding or
evading the bare truth. So, He declares, in clear terms, that men are one rank
above women.
428. So far as physical strength is concerned, even women
won't deny men's superiority. Inequality in this aspect gets automatically
recognized when men and women are segregated for sports events wherein success
is dependent on physical strength and stamina. But Allah hasn't placed men
above women just on the criterion of physical strength. The ranking given in this
Verse is obviously about the comparative rights and obligations of the two
sexes. If men have greater rights, they have greater obligations and
responsibilities too, in fair measure, towards the other sex.
429. And if men are conscious only of their higher
rights, and forget about their higher obligations, they would be disturbing the
divine order. This will weaken the basic units of small families that
constitute the foundation of civilization and may cause the whole edifice to
come down crashing.
430. None can undo what Allah does. But He does
everything wisely. And it is always in the best interests of the creatures themselves
to follow what He ordains for them.
431. I think my Notes above need a clarification. Allah
Ta’ala has given men only one grade above women. And He has emphasized that the
women have their own rights. So, their higher status by one grade should not
generate the satanic pride in men. If it does, the men concerned are likely to be
doomed as the Satan has been! The All-knowing Allah has given men the higher
rank, not because they are intellectually superior, but for administrative
purposes. No administrative unit can have a smooth running if two equal ranking
persons are appointed to head that unit. A family is an administrative unit,
and, as such, it ought to have one head. Allah, in His wisdom, taking all pros
and cons into consideration, has ordained that the husband should head that
unit. This higher status ought to make the husband, not proud but humble. With
the higher rank, come higher responsibilities. He must be ever aware that the
Creator is watching him. HE is watching whether he is treating his wife with
respect and care and whether he runs his house with proper consultations with
her. The position of the husband is like that of a Prime Minister (PM) in a
cabinet form of government. The cabinet is likely to fall if the PM treats his
ministers with scant respect and as his servants.
Friday, the 16th
of August 2019.
