Enlightening Stories In The Quran -- Marriage and Divorce

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala tells us in the Quran,

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ قُرْءَ‌ٰنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٢﴾ نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ ٱلْقَصَصِ بِمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلْغَـٰفِلِينَ ﴿٣

Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand. (2) We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'an although you were, before it, among the unaware. (3) [Quran, Yusuf 12:2-3]

The Quranic stories are the best of stories. Allah chose and selected for us the best of stories to tell us. They contain details not even those who lived the events know the details of them. They skip details we don't need to know because they are not stories to entertain but they are stories to guide us and to guide us to excellence. Quran is pure from the point of view what benefit us. Each story has a lesson and every type of lesson you will find a story in the Quran. Everyone will find an example for him/her in the Quran--the weak, the oppressed, the tyrant, the poor, the rich, the father, the mother, the married person, the divorced person, and so on. So, make the Quran your intimate friend. Go to it everyday and when times are difficult, you know where the best of friends is and you won't feel lost or lonely. InshaAllah.

From among all the incidents that have occurred throughout human history, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala picked just a few to narrate in the Quran. Obviously, these stories are special and for us to learn from them.

Let us look at the story of Zayd ibn Harithah and what lessons we might take from this story.

Zayd ibn Harithah (ra), the freed slave and adopted son of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam, was married to Zaynab bint Jahsh (ra). Their marriage wasn’t very happy, and Zayd wanted separation. But the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam asked him not to do so. Allah revealed to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam that he must allow them to be divorced. Then Allah married Zaynab to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam.

وَإِذْ تَقُولُ لِلَّذِىٓ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ زَوْجَكَ وَٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ وَتُخْفِى فِى نَفْسِكَ مَا ٱللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ وَتَخْشَى ٱلنَّاسَ وَٱللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَىٰهُ ۖ فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ زَيْدٌ مِّنْهَا وَطَرًا زَوَّجْنَـٰكَهَا لِكَىْ لَا يَكُونَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَرَجٌ فِىٓ أَزْوَ‌ٰجِ أَدْعِيَآئِهِمْ إِذَا قَضَوْا۟ مِنْهُنَّ وَطَرًا ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا ﴿٣٧

And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, "Keep your wife and fear Allah," while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him. So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you in order that there not be upon the believers any discomfort concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer have need of them. And ever is the command of Allah accomplished. (37) [Quran, Al-Ahzab 33:37]

Both Zayd and Zaynab are among the high-ranking Companions. Zayd is the only Companion mentioned by name in the Quran. He was beloved to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, and after him, his son Usamah. He was killed whilst commanding the Muslim forces at the battle of Mu’tah. Zaynab (ra) was one of the Mothers of the Believers. She excelled in goodness.

But despite their excellence, these two Companions couldn’t make a successful marriage. They had quarrels and bitterness to such an extent that they had to separate. What this teaches us is that when a couple gets as divorce, it doesn’t necessarily mean that one or the other (or both) of them are bad people or have some character problem. It simply means that they weren’t compatible with each other. We must not leap to the worst conclusion but give others the benefit of doubt, and leave judgment to Allah.

May Allah guide us to excellence. Aameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam