Which Surah Is Called the Smaller Surah An-Nisa?
ما هي السورة التي تسمى سورة النساء الصغرى؟
Surah At-Talaq 65
سورة الطلاق 65
1. The Shorter Surah An-Nisa | سورة النساء القصرى
Discussing the waiting period of a pregnant woman whose husband has died, Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said: Do you impose the harder ruling on her and not the concession? The shorter Surah An-Nisa was revealed after the longer one: and for those who are pregnant, their term is until they deliver (Sahih al-Bukhari 4910, also 4532). The verse he quoted is At-Talaq 65:4.
وَأُولَاتُ الْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ (سورة الطلاق: 4)
قال عبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه في عدة الحامل المتوفى عنها زوجها: أتجعلون عليها التغليظ ولا تجعلون عليها الرخصة؟ لنزلت سورة النساء القصرى بعد الطولى: (وأولات الأحمال أجلهن أن يضعن حملهن) (صحيح البخاري 4910، و4532)، وهي الآية الرابعة من سورة الطلاق.
2. Divorce at the Right Time | فطلقوهن لعدتهن
The surah opens: O Prophet, when you divorce women, divorce them at the start of their waiting period, and keep count of the waiting period (65:1). Ibn Kathir notes that the Prophet is addressed first in honour, then the Ummah with him. Ibn Umar divorced his wife while she was menstruating, and the Prophet said: let him take her back and keep her until she becomes pure, then menstruates and becomes pure again; then, if he wishes, he may divorce her while she is pure before touching her; that is the waiting period as Allah commanded (Sahih al-Bukhari 4908). The waiting periods are explained in the waiting period of a divorced woman.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا الْعِدَّةَ (سورة الطلاق: 1)
افتتحت السورة بقوله تعالى: (يا أيها النبي إذا طلقتم النساء فطلقوهن لعدتهن وأحصوا العدة) (الطلاق 65: 1)، وذكر ابن كثير أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم خوطب أولا تشريفا وتكريما ثم خوطبت الأمة تبعا. وطلق ابن عمر امرأته وهي حائض، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "ليراجعها ثم يمسكها حتى تطهر ثم تحيض فتطهر، فإن بدا له أن يطلقها فليطلقها طاهرا قبل أن يمسها، فتلك العدة كما أمره الله" (صحيح البخاري 4908).
3. Rulings for the Woman | أحكام المرأة في سورة الطلاق
The surah sets out the waiting period for women who no longer menstruate or have not yet menstruated (three months) and for pregnant women (until they deliver) (65:4), and commands that divorced women be housed where their husbands live (65:6). What men are commanded when they divorce is explained in what the verses teach about divorce, and the number of divorces in how many divorces are permitted.
وبينت السورة عدة اللائي يئسن من المحيض واللائي لم يحضن (ثلاثة أشهر) وعدة الحامل (أن تضع حملها) (الطلاق 65: 4)، وأمرت بإسكان المطلقات من حيث يسكن الأزواج (الطلاق 65: 6).
4. A Way Out for Whoever Fears Allah | ومن يتق الله يجعل له مخرجا
In the middle of these rulings Allah says: whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out, and provide for him from where he does not expect (65:2-3). Ibn Kathir explains: from a direction that does not cross his mind. He reports that Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said: the verse in the Quran with the most relief is: whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out.
وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا (سورة الطلاق: 2)
وفي أثناء هذه الأحكام قال تعالى: (ومن يتق الله يجعل له مخرجا ويرزقه من حيث لا يحتسب) (الطلاق 65: 2-3)، قال ابن كثير: أي من جهة لا تخطر بباله. ونقل عن عبد الله بن مسعود قوله: إن أكثر آية في القرآن فرجا: (ومن يتق الله يجعل له مخرجا).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Which surah is called the smaller Surah An-Nisa?
Surah At-Talaq (65).
Who called it the shorter Surah An-Nisa?
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, who said the shorter Surah An-Nisa was revealed after the longer one (Sahih al-Bukhari 4532 and 4910).
What is the waiting period of a pregnant woman?
Until she gives birth: and for those who are pregnant, their term is until they deliver (65:4).
What does At-Talaq 65:2-3 promise?
Whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect.