At-Talaq, "The Divorce," is the sixty-fifth surah — 12 verses revealed in Medina.1 It sets out how a marriage may be ended — slowly, fairly and before witnesses — and it returns again and again to the promise that those who fear God will not be left without a way forward.
What it is about
The surah addresses the Prophet ﷺ and through him the community: "when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period and keep count of the waiting period." Divorced women are not to be turned out of their homes during that time. When the term is nearly complete, "either retain them according to acceptable terms or part with them according to acceptable terms. And bring to witness two just men from among you." And the promise: "whoever fears Allah — He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah — then He is sufficient for him."2
The waiting periods are specified: "those who no longer expect menstruation among your women — if you doubt, then their period is three months, and [also for] those who have not menstruated. And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth."3 Classical commentators understood "those who have not menstruated" to include girls who had not yet begun menstruating; the site's article on the marriage of 'A'isha discusses the wider question.
Divorced women must be housed "out of your means," not harmed "in order to oppress them," supported through pregnancy, and paid for nursing. "Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted — let him spend from what Allah has given him... Allah will bring about, after hardship, ease."4
Why it matters
At-Talaq is the Quran's principal statement on the procedure of divorce, and it frames every rule with God-consciousness and fairness toward women at their most vulnerable. Its verses "whoever fears Allah — He will make for him a way out" and "Allah will bring about, after hardship, ease" have become among the most cherished words of comfort in the Quran. It closes with a vision of God's command descending through "seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them."5 To read At-Talaq in Arabic with translations and recitation, open it on Quran.com.