They ask you about women's menses. Tell them, "It is an ailment. Avoid having carnal relations with them until their period is over." Then you may have carnal relations with them according to the rules of God. God loves those who repent and those who purify themselves. 222 Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth when or how you will, and send (good deeds, or ask Allah to bestow upon you pious offspring) before you for your ownselves. And fear Allah, and know that you are to meet Him (in the Hereafter), and give good tidings to the believers (O Muhammad SAW). 223 AND DO NOT allow your oaths in the name of God to become an obstacle to virtue and God-consciousness and the promotion of peace between men: for God is all-hearing, all-knowing. 224 Allah will not take you to task for the vain in your oaths, but he shall take you to task for that which your hearts have earned, and He is the Forgiving, the Forbearing. 225 Those who take an oath not to have sexual relation with their wives must wait four months, then if they return (change their idea in this period), verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. 226 And if they resolve on divorce, (let them remember that Allah hears everything and knows everything. 227 And the divorced women shall keep themselves in waiting for three courses nor is it allowed unto them that they should hide that which Allah hath created in their wombs, if they believe in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands are more entitled to their restorations during the same, if they desire rectification. Unto women is due likes that which is due from women reputably. And for men is a degree over them. And Allah is Mighty, Wise. 228