Allah has wronged himself. You do not know; perhaps Allah will bring about a new situation thereafter.”

“When they approach the end of their waiting period, either retain them honourably or part with them honourably. Call two just men from among you as witnesses, and bear witness for Allah. This is an admonition for whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day. And whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for him.”

“And He will provide for him from where he does not expect. Whoever puts his trust in Allah, He will suffice him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has set a measure for everything.”

Thus, glory be to Him, He explained the ruling on divorce in this surah, and the ruling on Muslims’ oaths in the other. Muslims must understand the limits of what Allah has revealed to His Messenger, so that they know what falls under divorce and what falls under Muslims’ oaths, and judge these matters according to the ruling of Allah and His Messenger. They must not transgress Allah’s limits by applying the ruling on their oaths both to Muslims’ oaths and to their divorces, for this contradicts the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger.

Although some of this has been unclear to many Muslim scholars, other Muslim scholars have understood it. Those among the Companions and the Successors who distinguished between the two are held in higher esteem by Muslims than those who confused them. Allah Most High says:

“O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. If you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and leads to the best outcome.”

Whatever Muslims dispute must therefore be referred to the Quran and the Sunnah. Reasoning by comparison—which is the soundest and clearest form of analogy—supports only the view of those who distinguish between the two. This also benefits Muslims in their religious and worldly affairs if