He that cannot afford (a slave to be set free) shall then (observe) fasts for two consecutive months before he and his wife touch each other (for conjugal relationship). But he who has not even the strength (to fast for that time) shall feed sixty poor people. This has been so (ordained) that you may have faith in Allah and really submit before Him and His Messenger. These are the limits (enjoining you to give up foul practices and injustice to women) prescribed by Allah. And the deniers of these shall receive grievous punishment. (58:4)

Commentary

NUMBER 60: The first four verses of Sūrah al-Mujādila speak about the practice of ‘ẓihār’ – a form of divorce which was common at the time of jāhiliyyah (pre-Islam) – however it was a divorce in which the man and woman could not reconcile and get back together, nor was the woman free to marry again – she was left in a legal limbo. According to the history of why this chapter was revealed, scholars note that at the time of the Prophet, a married couple in Medina got into an argument and the Muslim man ‘divorced’ his wife by using this pre-Islamic custom (which had not yet been abrogated in Islam). However, a problem arose that the man had “divorced” his wife out of anger – was there any way out to save their marriage and family life?These verses were revealed to the Prophet ] and he told the couple that in order to get back together the man must:1. Free a slave;2. Fast for two months;3. Feed sixty needy people.The man told the Prophet he did not have the means to free a slave as the cost of that was just too high for him to bear; he also told the Messenger that he can’t fast as if he does not eat, he begins to have problems with his vision and he feared that he may go blind; he also did not have the ability to feed sixty poor people – unless the Prophet could provide him some financial support or some other support in these regards. The Prophet agreed and gave the man 15 sāʿ (an ancient measurement of volume) which was enough to feed sixty people and so the man did as he was required and paid the expiation of his oath by feeding the poor, and went back to his wife and their family life. Thus did Islam do away with backwards practices and restore the dignity and honour to its followers by ensuring that they only practiced that which the faith of Islam had endorsed.

Point of Reflection

A religion which claims that it is applicable to the entire world must have rules in place that can resonate for all eras and all places so that people do not ever find themselves stuck at a dead end because of what they have done. There must always be a way out for our inappropriate actions as Allah is the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

The Constitution of Medina