“When you divorce women and they approach the end of their waiting period, then retain them in a fair manner or release them in a fair manner. Do not retain them in order to harm them and thereby transgress. Whoever does that has certainly wronged himself. Do not treat the verses of Allah as a mockery. Remember Allah’s favour upon you, and what He has sent down to you of the Book and wisdom, by which He admonishes you. Fear Allah, and know that Allah is All-Knowing of everything.” (231)

Regarding His saying, “When you divorce women and they approach the end of their waiting period,” to the end of the verse: it was revealed concerning a man from the Ansar named Thabit ibn Yasar. He divorced his wife, and when the end of her waiting period drew near, he took her back and then divorced her, intending thereby to harm her. (1)