Short answer
The Quran allows divorce as a last resort, after efforts to reconcile. It sets the rules: talaq can be given and taken back twice, a third makes it final, the wife waits an iddah in her home, and the couple must part kindly, without taking back gifts or causing harm. Most of it is in Surah al-Baqarah (2:226 to 237) and Surah al-Talaq (65).
The Hanafi rules of talaq, iddah, khula and maintenance are built directly on these ayahs, with the Sunnah explaining the details, such as giving talaq in a clean period without intimacy.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Reads the three quru' of 2:228 as three periods of purity between menstruations, not three menstrual cycles.
- Maliki
- Also reads the three quru' as three periods of purity.
Explanation
The Quran speaks about divorce in detail, and it surrounds it with mercy and taqwa. The main passages:
- Repair first: if a rift is feared, send an arbitrator from each family (4:35), and a settlement is best (4:128). Even if you dislike something in your spouse, Allah may have put much good in it (4:19).
- Twice, then final: "Divorce is twice. Then, either keep her in an acceptable manner or release her with good treatment" (2:229). After a third talaq she is not lawful to him until she marries another man (2:230). See halala.
- The waiting period: three quru' (2:228), which the Hanafis read as three menstrual cycles, three months for those who do not menstruate, and until birth for pregnant women (65:4). There is none if the marriage was not consummated (33:49).
- Divorce at the right time and keep count of the iddah, and do not turn her out of her home during it (65:1).
- No harm: do not keep a wife only to hurt her, and do not take Allah's verses in jest (2:231). Do not take back the mahr (2:229), except in khula, where she gives something to free herself.
- Kindness at parting: a provision for divorced women (2:241), half the mahr before consummation (2:237), and "do not forget graciousness between you" (2:237).
- Remarriage: do not stop a divorced woman from returning to her former husband if they agree (2:232).
- Other forms: ila, an oath to stay away from a wife (2:226), zihar (58:2 to 4) and li'an (24:6 to 9).
The tone of these ayahs is clear: divorce is allowed, but done in the fear of Allah, with fairness and dignity. For the steps today, see the divorce process, the types of talaq and is divorce a sin.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:229
ٱلطَّلَٰقُ مَرَّتَانِ ۖ فَإِمْسَاكٌۢ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌۢ بِإِحْسَٰنٍۢ ۗ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَأْخُذُوا۟ مِمَّآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّآ أَن يَخَافَآ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا فِيمَا ٱفْتَدَتْ بِهِۦ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَعْتَدُوهَا ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ ﴿٢٢٩﴾
Divorce is twice. Then, either keep [her] in an acceptable manner or release [her] with good treatment. And it is not lawful for you to take anything of what you have given them unless both fear that they will not be able to keep [within] the limits of Allah. But if you fear that they will not keep [within] the limits of Allah, then there is no blame upon either of them concerning that by which she ransoms herself. These are the limits of Allah, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah - it is those who are the wrongdoers.
The core rule of revocable and final divorce.
Quran, Surah At-Talaaq 65:1
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ ۖ لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِنۢ بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَٰحِشَةٍۢ مُّبَيِّنَةٍۢ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ لَا تَدْرِى لَعَلَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًۭا ﴿١﴾
O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period and keep count of the waiting period, and fear Allah, your Lord. Do not turn them out of their [husbands'] houses, nor should they [themselves] leave [during that period] unless they are committing a clear immorality. And those are the limits [set by] Allah. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah has certainly wronged himself. You know not; perhaps Allah will bring about after that a [different] matter.
Talaq is given at the right time with the iddah counted.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:237
وَإِن طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ وَقَدْ فَرَضْتُمْ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةًۭ فَنِصْفُ مَا فَرَضْتُمْ إِلَّآ أَن يَعْفُونَ أَوْ يَعْفُوَا۟ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِۦ عُقْدَةُ ٱلنِّكَاحِ ۚ وَأَن تَعْفُوٓا۟ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَلَا تَنسَوُا۟ ٱلْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿٢٣٧﴾
And if you divorce them before you have touched them and you have already specified for them an obligation, then [give] half of what you specified - unless they forego the right or the one in whose hand is the marriage contract foregoes it. And to forego it is nearer to righteousness. And do not forget graciousness between you. Indeed Allah, of whatever you do, is Seeing.
Kindness must survive the separation.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Talaq. The Hanafi rules of talaq built on these ayahs.
- Ahkam al-Quran (al-Jassas), commentary on Surah al-Baqarah 2:226 to 2:237 and Surah al-Talaq. The Hanafi legal reading of the divorce ayahs.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.