Overview (Verses 240 - 242)
 
More Rights for Widows and Divorcees
 
This interjection, with its fine spiritual touch, serves as a fitting interlude before the remaining rules on the rights of widows and on divorce are given:
 
Those of you who die leaving their wives behind, shall bequeath to their wives provisions for one year without their being obliged to leave [their deceased husbands’ homes]. Should they leave home [of their own accord], you shall incur no sin for what they may do with themselves in a lawful manner. God is Almighty, Wise. Divorced women shall have a provision according to what is fair. This is an obligation on the God-fearing. Thus God makes clear to you His revelations that you may understand. (Verses 240-242)
 
The first of these three verses establishes the right of a widow to a bequest by her deceased husband, allowing her to stay in his home with a provision for her maintenance. She does not need to leave his home or marry again during that period if that is what she chooses to do. This does not exclude her right to leave the house after four months and ten days, the waiting period, as laid down earlier. While the waiting period is an obligation upon the widow, her staying in her late husband’s home for a year is her right. Some jurists are of the opinion that this ruling is overruled by the one given in Verse 234. Such a conclusion is not justified since the two rulings refer to two different matters: one establishes a widow’s right while the other states an obligation binding upon her.
 
The sūrah goes on to state that: “Should they leave home [of their own accord], you shall incur no sin for what they may do with themselves in a lawful manner.” (Verse 240) The use of the plural ‘you’ in this context is significant because it indicates a collective communal responsibility for the welfare of widowed women, and a need for all members of the community to respect and observe Islamic rules and norms.
 
The concluding phrase, “God is Almighty, Wise,” draws attention to God’s power and wisdom in laying down such rules, with a hint of warning that they should not be taken lightly.
 
The next verse institutes a divorcee’s right to provisions, in general, and links the observance of this to righteousness and God-fearing.
 
Some scholars are of the view that the right given in this verse was superseded by those outlined earlier, which is again difficult to justify because the ‘provisions’ referred to here are not the same as maintenance. The context and the spirit of these Qur’ānic passages suggest that such provisions are a right of all divorced women irrespective of whether the marriage was consummated or a dowry agreed and settled. These provisions are designed to mitigate the bitterness and acrimony normally associated with divorce, and to offset some of the sadness and disappointment that follow the separation. The sūrah again evokes the couple’s fear of God as the best guarantee of fairness and generosity.
 
The final verse in this section asserts: “God makes clear to you His revelations that you may understand.” (Verse 242) God lays down rules clearly, fairly and effectively, inviting people to reflect on their value and purpose and to appreciate God’s blessings and mercy, implicit in them. They should not lose sight of the fact that they are aimed to bring about conciliation and accord. They are straightforward, easy and beneficial to put into practice, but rigorous and decisive at the, same time.
 
There is a great need for mankind to take heed of the divinely- inspired social order of Islam and put it into effect in their daily life, which will surely bring peace, stability and harmony into their hearts and minds, and into their lives as a whole.