The Meaning of Provision

women. That is incumbent on righteous men.” (2:236) When divorce takes place before the dowry’s settling and the marriage’s consummation, even then, the man must give the woman money or goods as a gesture of goodwill. In this instance, the question of his repaying dowry money does not arise. The Quran is also quite explicit on t “Believers, if you marry believing women and divorce them before the marriage is consummated, you are not required to observe a waiting period: make provision for them and release them in an honourable way.” (33:49) This “waiting period” (iddah) applies to a woman who has been married for some time and who may, after the divorce, discover that she is pregnant. This statutory waiting period of three months makes her position clear, and then the man must pay her additional compensation if she is expecting his child. But again, there is no question of maintenance for life, for the Quran seeks a natural solution to all human problems. It would, therefore, be wholly against the spirit of the Quran for a woman to be entitled to life maintenance from the very man with whom she could not co-exist. Such a ruling would indeed have created a negative mentality in society. The Quran again has the answer: “If they separate, God will compensate each of them out of His abundance: He is Munificent, Wise.’’(4:130)