God, and know that God seeth whatever ye do. Such
of you as die, and leave wives, their wives must wait
concerning themselves four months and ten days, and
when they shall have fulfilled their term, it shall
be no crime in you, for that which they shall do with
themselves, according to what is reasonable.
God well knoweth that which ye do. And it shall
be no crime in you, whether ye make public overtures
of marriage unto such women, within the said four
months and ten days, or whether ye conceal such your
designs in your minds: God knoweth that ye will
remember them. But make no promise unto them privately,
unless ye speak honorable words; and resolve not on
the knot of marriage, until the prescribed time be
accomplished; and know that God knoweth that which
is in your minds, therefore beware of him, and know
that God is gracious and merciful. It shall be
no crime in you, if ye divorce your wives, so long
as ye have not touched them, nor settled any dowry
on them. And provide for them (he who is at his
ease must provide according to his circumstances,
and he who is straitened according to his circumstances)
necessaries, according to what shall be reasonable.
This is a duty incumbent on the righteous. But
if ye divorce them before ye have touched them, and
have already settled a dowry on them, ye shall give
them half of what ye have settled, unless they release
any part, or he release part in whose hand the knot
of marriage is; and if ye release the whole, it will
approach nearer unto piety. And forget not liberality
among you, for God seeth that which ye do. Carefully
observe the appointed prayers, and the middle prayer,[41]
and be assiduous therein, with devotion towards God.
But if ye fear any danger, pray on foot or on horseback;
and when ye are safe, remember God, how he hath taught
you what as yet ye knew not. And such of you
as shall die and leave wives, ought to bequeath their
wives a year’s maintenance, without putting them
out of their houses: but if they go out voluntarily,
it shall be no crime in you, for that which they shall
do with themselves, according to what shall be reasonable;
God is mighty and wise. And unto those who are
divorced, a reasonable provision is also due; this
is a duty incumbent on those who fear God. Thus
God declareth his signs unto you, that ye may understand.
Hast thou not considered those who left their habitations
(and they were thousands) for fear of death? And
God said unto them, Die; then he restored them to
life, for God is gracious towards mankind; but the
greater part of men do not give thanks. Fight
for the religion of God, and know that God is he who
heareth and knoweth. Who is he that will lend
unto God on good usury? verily he will double it unto
him manifold; for God contracteth and extendeth his
hand as he pleaseth, and to him shall ye return.
Hast thou not considered the assembly of the children
of Israel, after the time of Moses; when they said
unto their prophet Samuel, Set a king over us, that