Page 43 - The Mercy of Believers

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TO WHOM DO BELIEVERS SHOW COMPASSION AND MERCY?

some other place under their control. Their main inten-
tion here is to earn the approval of Allah and to display a
compassionate attitude to another believer. Other than
this, they have no other expectation. During this period,
Allah recommends that believing men should not engage
in any deed which would do any harm to women they di-
vorced or put them in a difficult situation. This affection-
ate approach displayed towards women is explained in
the verse below:

Let them live where you live, according to your
means. Do not put pressure on them, so as to harass
them. If they are pregnant, maintain them until they
give birth. If they are suckling for you, give them
their wages and consult together with correctness
and courtesy. But if you make things difficult for
one another, another woman should do the suckling
for you. (Surat at-Talaq: 6)
The second part of the verse recommends that believ-
ers display moral perfection while settling any problems
that may arise after divorce, and that they resolve all dis-
putes in compliance with Islamic rules. The values that
ensure such a settlement no doubt stem from the fear of
Allah a person harbours in his heart, and conscience.
Believers, who value a person primarily because of his or
her faith, can in no way allow anything harmful to hap-
pen to him or her, nor can they put that person in a diffi-
cult situation. To come up to this standard of moral
perfection, men of faith provide lodging to and otherwise
meet the needs of their divorced wives, as long as they
ask for such support.