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36
THE QUR'ÂN.
II, 234-239.
time, there is no crime in them for what they do with themselves in reason; for God of what ye do is well aware.
[235] Nor is there any crime in you for that ye make them an offer of marriage, or that ye keep it secret, in your minds. God knows that ye will remember them; but do not propose to them in secret, unless ye speak a reasonable1 speech; and resolve not on the marriage tie until the Book shall reach its time2; but know that God knows what is in your souls; so beware! and know that God is forgiving and clement.
It is no crime in you if ye divorce your women ere you have yet touched them, or settled for them a settlement. But provide maintenance for them; the wealthy according to his power, and the straitened in circumstances according to his power, must provide, in reason;-a duty this upon the kind.
And if ye divorce them before ye have touched them, but have already settled for them a settlement; the half of what ye have settled, unless they remit it, or he in whose hand is the marriage tie remits it; and that ye should remit is nearer to piety, and forget not liberality between you. Verily, God on what ye do doth look.
Observe the prayers, and the middle prayer, and stand ye attent before God.
1 I. e. with honest intentions.
2 Until the time prescribed by the Qur'an be fulfilled.
That is, unless the wife choose to give up a part of the half which she could claim, or the husband do the same on his part, in which case an unequal partition is lawful.
See excursus on the Rites and Ceremonies of Islâm.
• Interpreted to mean either the middle or the odd one of the five.
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