Page 797 - An Index to the Qur'an

then from a lump of flesh, formed yet unformed, may have sexual intercourse with them and seek
so We may make things clear to you. We make what Allah has written for you. Eat and drink
whatever We want stay in the womb until a spec- until you can clearly discern the white thread
ified time and then We bring you out as children from the black thread of the dawn, then fulfil the
so that you can reach your full maturity. Some of fast until the night appears. But do not have sex-
you die and some of you revert to the lowest ual intercourse with them while you are in retreat
form of life so that, after having knowledge, they in the mosques. These are Allah’s limits, so do
then know nothing at all. And you see the earth not go near them. In this way does Allah make
dead and barren; then when We send down His Signs clear to people so that hopefully they
water onto it it quivers and swells and sprouts will guard against evil. (2:187)
with luxuriant plants of every kind. (22:5) They will ask you about menstruation. Say, ‘It is
Truly Allah has knowledge of the Hour and sends an impurity, so keep apart from women during
down abundant rain and knows what is in the menstruation and do not approach them until
womb. And no self knows what it will earn to- they have purified themselves. But once they
morrow and no self knows in what land it will have purified themselves, then go to them in the
die. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (31:34) way that Allah has enjoined on you.’ Allah loves
He created you from a single self, then produced those who turn back from wrongdoing and He
its mate from it, and sent down livestock to loves those who purify themselves. (2:222)
you–eight kinds in pairs. He creates you stage by Your women are fertile fields for you, so come to
stage in your mothers’ wombs in a threefold your fertile fields however you like. Send good
darkness. That is Allah, your Lord. Sovereignty is ahead for yourselves and have fear of Allah.
His. There is no god but Him. So what has made Know that you are going to meet Him. And give
you deviate? (39:6) good news to the believers. (2:223)
To whoever avoids the major wrong actions and Those who swear to abstain from sexual relations
indecencies–except for minor lapses–truly your with their wives can wait for a period of up to
Lord is vast in forgiveness. He has most knowl- four months. If they then retract their oath, Allah
edge of you when He first produced you from the is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. If they are deter-
earth, and when you were embryos in your mined to divorce, Allah is All-Hearing, All-
mothers’ wombs. So do not claim purity for your- Knowing. (2:226-227)
selves. He knows best those who guard against Divorced women should wait by themselves for
evil. (53:32) three menstrual cycles; and it is not lawful for
them to conceal what Allah has created in their
WOMEN wombs if they believe in Allah and the Last Day.
We said, ‘Adam, live in the Garden, you and Their husbands have the right to take them back
your wife, and eat freely from it wherever you within that time, if they desire to be reconciled.
will. But do not approach this tree and so be- Women possess rights similar to those held over
come wrongdoers.’ (2:35) them to be honoured with fairness; but men have
Remember when We rescued you from the peo- a degree above them. Allah is Almighty, All-
ple of Pharaoh. They were inflicting an evil pun- Wise. (2:228)
ishment on you–slaughtering your sons and Divorce can be pronounced two times; in which
letting your women live. In that there was a terri- case wives may be retained with correctness and
ble trial for you from your Lord. (2:49) courtesy or released with good will. It is not law-
On the night of the fast it is lawful for you to have ful for you to keep anything you have given them
sexual relations with your wives. They are cloth- unless a couple fear that they will not remain
ing for you and you for them. Allah knows that within Allah’s limits. If you fear that they will not
you have been betraying yourselves and He has remain within Allah’s limits, there is nothing
turned towards you and excused you. Now you wrong in the wife ransoming herself with some of
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