The Debate (Al-Mujaadalah)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Of a surety Allah hath heard the saying of her that disputed with thee concerning her husband and bewailed unto Allah; and Allah hath heard your mutual discourse. Verily Allah is Hearing, Beholding. 1 Those who separate themselves from their wives by pronouncing, "To me you are like my mother's back," must concede that they are not their mothers; none are their mothers except those who gave birth to them -- surely they utter an evil word and a lie. God is pardoning, forgiving. 2 Those who put away their wives (by saying they are as their mothers) and afterward would go back on that which they have said, (the penalty) in that case (is) the freeing of a slave before they touch one another. Unto this ye are exhorted; and Allah is Informed of what ye do. 3 He who is unable shall fast for two successive months before they touch one another. If he is unable to do this, let him feed sixty needy people, so that you believe in Allah and His Messenger. Such are the bounds of Allah. There is a painful punishment awaiting the unbelievers. 4 Surely those who oppose God and His Messenger shall be frustrated as those before them were frustrated. Now We have sent down signs, clear signs; and for the unbelievers awaits a humbling chastisement, 5 On the day when Allah will raise them all together and inform them of what they did. Allah hath kept account of it while they forgot it. And Allah is Witness over all things. 6