Texts from the Quran and from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim about divorce. This is a collection of texts, not a ruling and not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar. All topics
From the Quran
وَٱلْمُطَلَّقَٰتُ يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ ثَلَٰثَةَ قُرُوٓءٍۢ ۚ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَهُنَّ أَن يَكْتُمْنَ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ فِىٓ أَرْحَامِهِنَّ إِن كُنَّ يُؤْمِنَّ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۚ وَبُعُولَتُهُنَّ أَحَقُّ بِرَدِّهِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ إِنْ أَرَادُوٓا۟ إِصْلَٰحًۭا ۚ وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَيْهِنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌۭ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
Divorced women remain in waiting for three periods, and it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allah has created in their wombs if they believe in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands have more right to take them back in this [period] if they want reconciliation. And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable. But the men have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority]. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
ٱلطَّلَٰقُ مَرَّتَانِ ۖ فَإِمْسَاكٌۢ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌۢ بِإِحْسَٰنٍۢ ۗ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَأْخُذُوا۟ مِمَّآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّآ أَن يَخَافَآ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا فِيمَا ٱفْتَدَتْ بِهِۦ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَعْتَدُوهَا ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ
Divorce is twice. Then, either keep [her] in an acceptable manner or release [her] with good treatment. And it is not lawful for you to take anything of what you have given them unless both fear that they will not be able to keep [within] the limits of Allah. But if you fear that they will not keep [within] the limits of Allah, then there is no blame upon either of them concerning that by which she ransoms herself. These are the limits of Allah, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah – it is those who are the wrongdoers.
فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُۥ ۗ فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَآ أَن يَتَرَاجَعَآ إِن ظَنَّآ أَن يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ يُبَيِّنُهَا لِقَوْمٍۢ يَعْلَمُونَ
And if he has divorced her [for the third time], then she is not lawful to him afterward until [after] she marries a husband other than him. And if the latter husband divorces her [or dies], there is no blame upon the woman and her former husband for returning to each other if they think that they can keep [within] the limits of Allah. These are the limits of Allah, which He makes clear to a people who know.
وَإِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَبَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ سَرِّحُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍۢ ۚ وَلَا تُمْسِكُوهُنَّ ضِرَارًۭا لِّتَعْتَدُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ هُزُوًۭا ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَٱلْحِكْمَةِ يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۭ
And when you divorce women and they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or release them according to acceptable terms, and do not keep them, intending harm, to transgress [against them]. And whoever does that has certainly wronged himself. And do not take the verses of Allah in jest. And remember the favor of Allah upon you and what has been revealed to you of the Book and wisdom by which He instructs you. And fear Allah and know that Allah is Knowing of all things.
وَإِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَبَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ أَن يَنكِحْنَ أَزْوَٰجَهُنَّ إِذَا تَرَٰضَوْا۟ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ مِنكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۗ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَزْكَىٰ لَكُمْ وَأَطْهَرُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And when you divorce women and they have fulfilled their term, do not prevent them from remarrying their [former] husbands if they agree among themselves on an acceptable basis. That is instructed to whoever of you believes in Allah and the Last Day. That is better for you and purer, and Allah knows and you know not.
لَّا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ مَا لَمْ تَمَسُّوهُنَّ أَوْ تَفْرِضُوا۟ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةًۭ ۚ وَمَتِّعُوهُنَّ عَلَى ٱلْمُوسِعِ قَدَرُهُۥ وَعَلَى ٱلْمُقْتِرِ قَدَرُهُۥ مَتَٰعًۢا بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۖ حَقًّا عَلَى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
There is no blame upon you if you divorce women you have not touched nor specified for them an obligation. But give them [a gift of] compensation – the wealthy according to his capability and the poor according to his capability – a provision according to what is acceptable, a duty upon the doers of good.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ ۖ لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِنۢ بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَٰحِشَةٍۢ مُّبَيِّنَةٍۢ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ لَا تَدْرِى لَعَلَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًۭا
O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period and keep count of the waiting period, and fear Allah, your Lord. Do not turn them out of their [husbands'] houses, nor should they [themselves] leave [during that period] unless they are committing a clear immorality. And those are the limits [set by] Allah. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah has certainly wronged himself. You know not; perhaps Allah will bring about after that a [different] matter.
فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍۢ وَأَشْهِدُوا۟ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍۢ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَٰدَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًۭا
And when they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or part with them according to acceptable terms. And bring to witness two just men from among you and establish the testimony for [the acceptance of] Allah. That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allah and the Last day. And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out
From the hadith
مُرْهُ فَلْيُرَاجِعْهَا ثُمَّ لْيَتْرُكْهَا حَتَّى تَطْهُرَ ثُمَّ تَحِيضَ ثُمَّ تَطْهُرَ ثُمَّ إِنْ شَاءَ أَمْسَكَ بَعْدُ وَإِنْ شَاءَ طَلَّقَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمَسَّ فَتِلْكَ الْعِدَّةُ الَّتِي أَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ يُطَلَّقَ لَهَا النِّسَاءُ
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that he divorced his wife while she was menstruating during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). 'Umar b. Khattib (Allah be pleased with him) asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about it, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:Command him ('Abdullah b. 'Umar) to take her back (and keep her) and pronounce divorce when she is purified and she again enters the period of menstruation and she is again purified (after passing the period of menses), and then if he so desires he may keep her and if he desires divorce her (finally) before touching her (without having an intercourse with her), for that is the period of waiting ('ldda) which God, the Exalted and Glorious, has commanded for the divorce of women
مُرْهُ فَلْيُرَاجِعْهَا، ثُمَّ لِيُمْسِكْهَا حَتَّى تَطْهُرَ ثُمَّ تَحِيضَ، ثُمَّ تَطْهُرَ، ثُمَّ إِنْ شَاءَ أَمْسَكَ بَعْدُ وَإِنْ شَاءَ طَلَّقَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمَسَّ، فَتِلْكَ الْعِدَّةُ الَّتِي أَمَرَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تُطَلَّقَ لَهَا النِّسَاءُ
Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:that he had divorced his wife while she was menstruating during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . `Umar bin Al-Khattab asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about that. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Order him (your son) to take her back and keep her till she is clean and then to wait till she gets her next period and becomes clean again, whereupon, if he wishes to keep her, he can do so, and if he wishes to divorce her he can divorce her before having sexual intercourse with her; and that is the prescribed period which Allah has fixed for the women meant to be divorced
لِيُرَاجِعْهَا ". قُلْتُ تُحْتَسَبُ قَالَ " فَمَهْ ". وَعَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ " مُرْهُ فَلْيُرَاجِعْهَا ". قُلْتُ تُحْتَسَبُ قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ عَجَزَ وَاسْتَحْمَقَ.
Narrated Anas bin Seereen:Ibn `Umar said: "I divorced my wife while she was menstruating. `Umar mentioned that to the Prophet . The Prophet (ﷺ) said, (to my father), "Let your son take her back." I asked (Ibn `Umar), "Is such a divorce counted (i.e. as one legal divorce)?" Ibn `Umar said, "Of course." Narrated Yunus bin Jubair: Ibn `Umar said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) said to `Umar, 'Order him (Ibn `Umar) to take her back.' " I asked, "Is such a divorce counted (as one legal divorce)?" Ibn `Umar said, "What do you think if someone becomes helpless and foolish?
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، رُمْحٍ – وَاللَّفْظُ لِيَحْيَى – قَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، – عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّهُ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَةً لَهُ وَهْىَ حَائِضٌ تَطْلِيقَةً وَاحِدَةً فَأَمَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يُرَاجِعَهَا ثُمَّ يُمْسِكَهَا حَتَّى تَطْهُرَ ثُمَّ تَحِيضَ عِنْدَهُ حَيْضَةً أُخْرَى ثُمَّ يُمْهِلَهَا حَتَّى تَطْهُرَ مِنْ حَيْضَتِهَا فَإِنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَهَا فَلْيُطَلِّقْهَا حِينَ تَطْهُرُ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يُجَامِعَهَا فَتِلْكَ الْعِدَّةُ الَّتِي أَمَرَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُطَلَّقَ لَهَا النِّسَاءُ . وَزَادَ ابْنُ رُمْحٍ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ وَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ إِذَا سُئِلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لأَحَدِهِمْ أَمَّا أَنْتَ طَلَّقْتَ امْرَأَتَكَ مَرَّةً أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَمَرَنِي بِهَذَا وَإِنْ كُنْتَ طَلَّقْتَهَا ثَلاَثًا فَقَدْ حَرُمَتْ عَلَيْكَ حَتَّى تَنْكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَكَ وَعَصَيْتَ اللَّهَ فِيمَا أَمَرَكَ مِنْ طَلاَقِ امْرَأَتِكَ . قَالَ مُسْلِمٌ جَوَّدَ اللَّيْثُ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَطْلِيقَةً وَاحِدَةً .
Abdullah (b. 'Umar) reported that he divorced a wife of his with the pronouncement of one divorce during the period of menstruation. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) commanded him to take her back and keep her until she was purified, and then she entered the period of menses in his (house) for the second time. And he should wait until she was purified of her menses. And then if he would decide to divorce her, he should do so when she was purified before having a sexual intercourse with her; for that was the 'Idda which Allah had commanded for the divorce of women. Ibn Rumh in his narration made this addition:When 'Abdullah was asked about it, he said to one of them: If you have divorced your wife with one pronouncement or two (then you can take her back), for Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) commanded me to do it; but if you have divorced her with three pronouncements, then she is forbidden for you until she married another husband, and you disobeyed Allah in regard to the divorce of your wife what He had commanded you. (Muslim said: The word" one divorce" used by Laith is good)
أَتَرُدِّينَ عَلَيْهِ حَدِيقَتَهُ ". قَالَتْ نَعَمْ. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اقْبَلِ الْحَدِيقَةَ وَطَلِّقْهَا تَطْلِيقَةً ". قَالَ أَبُو عَبْد اللَّهِ لَا يُتَابَعُ فِيهِ عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:The wife of Thabit bin Qais came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I do not blame Thabit for defects in his character or his religion, but I, being a Muslim, dislike to behave in un-Islamic manner (if I remain with him)." On that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said (to her), "Will you give back the garden which your husband has given you (as Mahr)?" She said, "Yes." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said to Thabit, "O Thabit! Accept your garden, and divorce her once
لاَ تَحِلِّينَ لِزَوْجِكِ الأَوَّلِ حَتَّى يَذُوقَ الآخَرُ عُسَيْلَتَكِ، وَتَذُوقِي عُسَيْلَتَهُ
Narrated `Aisha:A man divorced his wife and she married another man who proved to be impotent and divorced her. She could not get her satisfaction from him, and after a while he divorced her. Then she came to the Prophet and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! My first husband divorced me and then I married another man who entered upon me to consummate his marriage but he proved to be impotent and did not approach me except once during which he benefited nothing from me. Can I remarry my first husband in this case?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "It is unlawful to marry your first husband till the other husband consummates his marriage with you
لَعَلَّكِ تُرِيدِينَ أَنْ تَرْجِعِي إِلَى رِفَاعَةَ لاَ حَتَّى يَذُوقَ عُسَيْلَتَكِ وَتَذُوقِي عُسَيْلَتَهُ " . وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ جَالِسٌ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَخَالِدُ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْعَاصِ جَالِسٌ بِبَابِ الْحُجْرَةِ لَمْ يُؤْذَنْ لَهُ قَالَ فَطَفِقَ خَالِدٌ يُنَادِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَلاَ تَزْجُرُ هَذِهِ عَمَّا تَجْهَرُ بِهِ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
A'isha (Allah be pleased with her), the wife of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ), reported that Rifa'a al-Quraid (Allah be pleased with him) divorced his wife, making her divorce irrevocable. Afterwards she married Abd at-Rahman b. al-Zubair (Allah be pleased with him), She came to Allah'sApostle (may peace be upon him and said to Allah's messenger (ﷺ) that she had been the wife of Rifa'a (Allah be pleased with him) and he had divorced her by three pronouncements and afterwards she married 'Abd al-Rahman b. al-Zubair. By Allah, all he possesses is like the fringe of a garment, and she took hold of the fringe of her garment. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) laughed and said:Perhaps you wish to return to Rifa'a, (but you) cannot (do it) until he has tasted your sweetness and you have tasted his sweetness. Abu Bakr al-siddiq (Allah be pleased with him) was sitting at that time with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and Khalid b. Sa'id b. al-'As (Allah be pleased with him) was sitting at the door of his apartment and he was not permitted to (enter the room), and Kbalid called loudly saying: Abu Bakr, why don't you scold her for what she is saying loudly in the presence of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?
لاَ ". مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا كُلَّ ذَلِكَ يَقُولُ لاَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرٌ، وَقَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ تَرْمِي بِالْبَعَرَةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ
Zainab further said:"I heard my mother, Um Salama saying that a woman came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! The husband of my daughter has died and she is suffering from an eye disease, can she apply kohl to her eye?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "No," twice or thrice. (Every time she repeated her question) he said, "No." Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) added, "It is just a matter of four months and ten days. In the Pre-Islamic Period of ignorance a widow among you should throw a globe of dung when one year has elapsed
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، – يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَبِي حَازِمٍ وَقَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ أَيْضًا حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ، – يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْقَارِيَّ – كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي، سَلَمَةَ عَنْ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ قَيْسٍ، أَنَّهُ طَلَّقَهَا زَوْجُهَا فِي عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَكَانَ أَنْفَقَ عَلَيْهَا نَفَقَةَ دُونٍ فَلَمَّا رَأَتْ ذَلِكَ قَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ لأُعْلِمَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَإِذَا كَانَ لِي نَفَقَةٌ أَخَذْتُ الَّذِي يُصْلِحُنِي وَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ لِي نَفَقَةٌ لَمْ آخُذْ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا قَالَتْ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " لاَ نَفَقَةَ لَكِ وَلاَ سُكْنَى " .
Fatima bint Qais reported that her husband divorced her during the life time of Allah's Prophet (ﷺ) and gave her a meagre maintenance allowance. When she saw that, she said:By Allah, I will inform Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), and if maintenance allowance is due to me then I will accept that which will suffice me, and if it is not due to me, I will not accept anything from him. She said: I made a mention of that to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and he said: There is neither maintenance allowance for you nor lodging
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