Surah At-Talaq, Ayah 5

The `Iddah of Those in Menopause and Those Who do not have Menses

Allah the Exalted clarifies the waiting period of the woman in menopause. And that is the one whose menstruation has stopped due to her older age. Her `Iddah is three months instead of the three monthly cycles for those who menstruate, which is based upon the Ayah in (Surat) Al-Baqarah. see 2:228 The same for the young, who have not reached the years of menstruation. Their `Iddah is three months like those in menopause. This is the meaning of His saying;

وَاللَّـتِي لَمْ يَحِضْنَ

(and for those who have no courses...) as for His saying;

إِنِ ارْتَبْتُمْ

(if you have doubt...) There are two opinions: First, is the saying of a group of the Salaf, like Mujahid, Az-Zuhri and Ibn Zayd. That is, if they see blood and there is doubt if it was menstrual blood or not. The second, is that if you do not know the ruling in this case, then know that their `Iddah is three months. This has been reported from Sa`id bin Jubayr and it is the view preferred by Ibn Jarir. And this is the more obvious meaning. Supporting this view is what is reported from Ubay bin Ka`b that he said, "O Allah's Messenger! Some women were not mentioned in the Qur'an, the young, the old and the pregnant." Allah the Exalted and Most Honored sent down this Ayah,

Then the verse emphasises strict adherence to the above laws pertaining to divorce and waiting-period, thus: ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرُ‌ اللَّـهِ أَنزَلَهُ إِلَيْكُمْ (This is the command of Allah that He has sent down to you...5) After this, the verse again draws attention to another virtue of taqwa. وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّـهَ يُكَفِّرْ‌ عَنْهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِ وَيُعْظِمْ لَهُ أَجْرً‌ا (Arid whoever fears Allah, He will write off his evil deeds, and will give him a huge reward...65:5)

Five Blessings of taqwa

The merits and blessings of taqwa mentioned in the above verses may be summarised in five things: [ 1] He who has taqwa will be given a way out of difficulties and adversities; [ 2] He will be provided with all his needs from resources that he does not anticipate or expect; [ 3] Allah will make matters and tasks easy for him; [ 4] Allah will expiate his sins; and [ 5] He will grant him an immense reward.

Another blessing of taqwa mentioned by the Holy Qur'an at another place is that a God-fearing person finds it easier to distinguish between right and wrong, thus:إِن تَتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْ‌قَانًا you fear Allah, He will provide you with a criterion to distinguish between right and wrong...8:29]

The Shariah has subjected man to some regulations in respect of divorce and other matters. These regulations are apparently restrictive of man’s free nature. But, in reality, these are blessings. The advantage of these regulations is that man is saved from many unnecessary and avoidable harms. Furthermore, the system of this world is so framed that every harm is compensated for in some way or the other. However, such compensation is available only to individuals who do not go beyond the sphere of nature.