Reconciliation for unhappy wife (4:128 Surah An-Nissa)

[N. Truth Seeker]

 


"And if a woman fears from her husband ill-treatment or desertion, there is no sin upon them if they make terms of settlement between them - and settlement is best.  And (human) souls are swayed by greed.  But  If you do good and keep from evil, then indeed Allah is ever Informed of what you do."  (2:128).

Salam to all. 

Someone in our discussion group was saying that this Verse discourages divorce.  What's your opinion?

Furthermore, the sentence in this Verse "And (human) souls are swayed by greed."  How would one explain it in context with this Verse?

[Zainab_M]

Walaikum Salaam.  No brother, the Verse is not discouraging divorce.  Allah is simply conveying the message that in case of serious differences between husband and wife, let them first try to reconcile.  If they succeed, it would be a desirable solution to the problem instead of going through the bitterness or heartache of divorce.  However, it goes without saying that if reconciliation doesn't work, then divorce is not disallowed at all.  There's a whole Surah in the Quran titled At-Talaq (Divorce) and Verses in other Surahs too that speak on divorce.

Related topics on divorce at MV:
-  Divorce in the Glorious Quran
-  Source of the misinterpreted 'triple divorce law'
-  Triple divorce law - a wilful misinterpretation by Shariah
-  Divorce in the Quran


"And (human) souls are swayed by greed."    This refers to the inherent characteristic of selfishness within many humans according to which they're inclined to making decisions for their own benefit, often ignoring the rights of the spouse.   In my opinion, the reference is to both husband and wife;   but if you read the following Verse 4:129 which gives instruction to men with polygamous marriages, I think the greater allusion in that sentence of Verse 4:128 is to men.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Many thanks Sister Zeynab.   That's a very rational interpretation. 

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Actually Verse 33:37 which refers to an unhappy marriage of Zaid and Zainab, alludes to upholding divorce as a better decision in such situations. 

"And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, "Keep your wife and fear Allah ," while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him."  33:37 Al-Ahzab.

The Prophet (pbuh) concealing what Allah Almighty was to disclose refers to the divorce which the Prophet was trying to downplay for fear of what the people might gossip that a marriage arranged by him had failed.  But it was not his fault if the marriage didn't work and to resolve the unhappy marriage for the couple, they were destined for a divorce which Allah knew. 

Indeed it's a positive move to give reconciliation a chance.  I'm sure both Zaid and Zainab tried that but it didn't work, making divorce inevitable.  That's also nothing to feel guilty about as long as you did your best to salvage your marriage yet it didn't work.

[N. Truth Seeker]

That's also very true, and straight from the Noble Quran.   Thanks sister.