You will not be blamed [for not paying the dower money] if you divorce women when you have not yet consummated the marriage or fixed a dower money upon them, but make fair provision for them, the affluent according to his means and the straitened according to his means; this is binding on righteous men. 236 If you divorce your wives before the consummation of the marriage and the amount of dowry has been fixed, pay your wives half of the amount of their dowry unless she or her guardians drop their demand for payment. To drop such a demand is closer to piety. Be generous to each other. God is Well-Aware of what you do. 237 Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient. 238 And if you are in fear, then afoot or mounted; but when you are secure, then remember God, as He taught you the things that you knew not. 239 And those of you who die and leave wives behind, they shall make a bequest unto their wives a year's maintenance without their having to go out, then if they go out, then no blame is on you for that which they do with themselves reputably, and Allah is Mighty, Wise. 240 And for divorced women is a provision according to what is acceptable - a duty upon the righteous. 241 Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you might use reason. 242