**"And when you have divorced women..."**
"And they have reached their term"
Meaning: the end of their waiting period (ʿiddah), having neared its completion. The term (ajal) applies to the entire duration and to its final point. One says of a human life that it has an ajal, and of the death that terminates it, that it is its ajal. Likewise with the terms "limit" (ghāyah) and "span" (amad). Grammarians say min (from) is for the beginning of a limit, and ilā (to) is for its end. It is said: "Every living being completes the span of life, and returns when its term ends."
The term "reaching" (bulūgh) is also used broadly; one says "he reached the city" when he has neared it and drawn close to it. It is said "you have arrived" even if one has not fully arrived, but merely neared it. Because it is known that retention after the term has expired has no basis—for after its expiration, she is no longer his wife and is not in a waiting period from him—he has no authority over her.
"Then retain them with kindness"
Meaning: either he takes her back without seeking to cause harm by the reconciliation.
"Or release them with kindness"
Meaning: or he leaves her until her waiting period expires and she becomes irrevocably separated, without harm.
"And do not retain them to cause harm"
A man would divorce a woman and leave her until her waiting period was near expiration, then take her back—not out of need, but to prolong the waiting period for her. This is retention to cause harm.
"So that you may transgress"
Meaning: so that you may wrong them. It is also said: so that you may force them to seek redemption (khulʿ).
"He has indeed wronged his own soul"
By exposing it to the punishment of God.
"And do not take the signs of God in mockery"
Meaning: be earnest in accepting them and acting upon what is in them, and observe them with the right of observance; otherwise, you have taken them as mockery and play. It is said to one who is not earnest in a matter: "You are merely playing and mocking." It is said: "Be a Jew, or else do not play with the Torah." It is said that a man would divorce, free a slave, or marry, and then say, "I was only playing." The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Three things are serious in their seriousness and serious in their jest: marriage, divorce, and reconciliation."
"And remember the favor of God upon you"
Through Islam and the prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ).
"And what He has revealed to you of the Book and Wisdom"
Meaning: the Quran and the Sunnah. Remembering them entails showing gratitude and fulfilling their rights.
"He instructs you with it"
With what He has revealed to you.
"And they have reached their term, do not prevent them"
This may be addressed to husbands who prevent their wives after the expiration of the waiting period, out of injustice, coercion, and pre-Islamic tribal pride, not letting them marry whom they wish. The meaning is: let them marry their husbands whom they desire and who are suitable for them. Or, it may be addressed to the guardians who prevent them from returning to their former husbands. It is narrated that this was revealed regarding Maʿqil ibn Yasār when he prevented his sister from returning to her first husband, and it is said regarding Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh when he prevented a cousin of his.
The most sound view is that it is a general address to the people: let there be no prevention among you. For if it exists among them while they are content, they are in the position of those who prevent. ʿAḍl (prevention) is confinement and restriction. From this comes the saying "the hen was ʿaḍlat," meaning her egg became stuck and would not come out.
Regarding the two mentions of "reaching the term," al-Shāfiʿī (may God have mercy on him) said the context of the two statements indicates a difference between the two "reachings."
"If they agree among themselves"
If the suitors and the women agree.
"With kindness"
With what is considered good in religion and chivalry regarding conditions. It is said: with the equivalent dowry (mahr al-mithl). It is the position of Abū Ḥanīfah (may God have mercy on him) that if she marries herself for less than her equivalent dowry, the guardians have the right to object.
If you ask: To whom is the address in His saying, "That is what he is instructed with"?
I say: It is permissible that it be the Messenger of God (ﷺ) and everyone else. Similar is: "That is better for you and purer" (58:12).
"More virtuous for you and purer"
From the stains of sins. It is also said: "More virtuous and purer" means better and more wholesome.
"And God knows"
What is in that of virtue and purity.
"And you do not know"
Or: God knows what you are to be reformed by in terms of rulings and laws, while you are ignorant of it.
