Quran Garden

Session 259

Chapter 2

Verses 240, 241 & 242

Those of you who die leaving wives behind should make a bequest to their wives of maintenance for a year without them having to leave their homes. But if they do leave you are not to blame for anything they do with themselves with correctness and courtesy. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (Chapter 2: Verse 240)

Let’s recall an earlier verse from the same chapter.  God says:

If any of you die and leave widows, the widows should wait for four months and ten nights before remarrying.  When they have completed this set time, you will not be blamed for anything they may reasonably choose to do with themselves. God is fully aware of what you do. (2:234)

So there are two rulings related to dying men and their widows.  The first ruling –from verse 234- states that the widow should complete her ‘iddah’ waiting period of four months and ten days before moving on with her life.  The second ruling is for the husband to make a proper will allowing his wife to remain in his house for one year without being expelled or even asked to leave.  So the widow is obligated to stay for the first four months and ten days, and she should have the option -and the right- to remain in the family home up to one full year.  God says: “Those of you who die leaving wives behind should make a bequest to their wives of maintenance for a year without them having to leave their homes.”  The will should come from the dying husband giving his wife the option to remain in the house beyond the mandatory ‘iddah’ for up to a year.  No one has the right to ask her to leave the marital home. 

The verse continues: “But if they do leave you are not to blame for anything they do with themselves with correctness and courtesy.’  The choice to stay or to leave the marital home after four months and ten days is entirely up to the widow. 

We now move to the next verse in ‘The Cow.’  God says:

And for divorced women is a provision according to what is acceptable - a duty upon the righteous. (Chapter 2: Verse 241)

For every social situation, Allah made a suitable ruling.  We have studied a few examples in regards to financial support for divorced and widowed women.  God says:

You will not be blamed if you divorce women when you have not yet consummated the marriage or fixed a bride-gift for them, but make fair provision for them, the rich according to his means and the poor according to his – a provision according to customary and honourable practices - this is a duty for those who do good. (2:236)

And in the 237^th verse

And if you divorce your wives before consummating the marriage but after fixing a bride-gift for them, then give them half of what you had previously fixed

So every Muslim man must take care of his family according to his means and ability.  God says:

In this way, God makes His revelations clear to you, so that you may grow in understanding.  (Chapter 2: Verse 242)

Allah always invites you to use your intellect, because when the clear mind ponders issues, such as divorce and marital support, it will reach the same sound rulings God provided for us.  The mind will logically confirm God’s wisdom in the legislation He prescribed. 

Perhaps, the best examples of the wisdom of God’s legislation can be seen in those who do not follow them.  How, you may ask? We answer that, more often than not, people who abandon God’s teachings end up in courts bearing great financial and social costs.  When people do not abide by the laws of the Creator, it is only logical that problems arise.  Otherwise, people would say: “Look, such and such is doing as he likes and he has no problems.“  I have seen many examples of people who rebelled against God’s teachings in regards to family matters only to become the most vocal supporters of these teachings after they suffered severe family problems.  They realized, through experience, that the best family rules come from the One who created families.