J. F. Campbell Collection > Koran: or, Alcoran of Mohammed

28 AL KORAN. CHAP. ii.
divorced shall give suck unto their children two full years, to him who
desireth the time of giving suck to be completed; and the father shall be
obliged to maintain them and clothe them in the mean time, according
to that which shall be reasonable. No person shall be obliged beyond his
ability. A mother shall not be compelled to what is unreasonable on
account of her child, nor a father on account of his chUd. And the heir of
the father shall be obliged to do in like manner. But if they chose to wean
the child be/ore tlie end of two years, by common consent, and on mutual
consideration, it shall be no crime in them. And if ye have a mind
to provide a nurse for your cliildren, it shall be no crime in you, in case yo
fully pay what ye offer her, according to that which is just. And feae
God, and know that God seeth whatsoever ye do. Such of you as die,
and leave wives, their wives must wait concerning themselves four months
and ten days,^ and when they shall have fulfilled their term, it shall be no
crime in you, for that which they shall do with themselves,^ according to
what is reasonable. God well knoweth that which ye do. And it
shall be no crime in you, whether ye make jmblic overtures of marriage
unto such women, within the said four months and ten days, or whether ye
conceal such your designs in your minds : God knoweth that ye will
remember them.* But make no promise unto them privately, unless
ye speak honourable words; and resolve not on the knot of marriage until
the prescribed time be accomplished; and know that God knoweth that
which is in your minds, therefore beware of him, and know that God
is gracious and merciful. It shall be no ci'ime in you, if ye divorce
your wives, so long as ye have not touched them, nor settled any dowry
on them. And provide for them (he who is at his ease must provide
according to his circumstances, and he who is straitened according to
his circumstances) necessaries, according to what shall be reasonable.
This is a duty incumbent on the righteous. But if ye divorce them
before ye have touched them, and have already settled a dowry on
them, ye shall give them half of what ye have settled, unless they release
any part, or he release part in whose hand the knot of marriage is;° and if
ye release the whule, it will approach nearer unto piety. And not forget libe-
rality among you, for GoD seeth that which ye do. Carefully observe the
appointed prayers, and the middle prayer,"^ and be assiduous therein, with
devotion towards God. But if ye fear any danger, pray on foot or on
» That is to say, before they marry again ; and this not only for decency sake, but
that it may be known whether they be with child by the deceased or not.
•> That is, if they leave off their mourning weeds, and look out for new husbands.
* " The desire of marrying a wife, whether you show it openly, or conceal it in
your own breasts, shall not render you guilty in the sight of God. He knoweth
that ye cannot prevent yourselves from thiuking of women; but make to them no
promise in secret, unless ye veil your love in decorous language." — Savary.
° i. e. Unless the wife agree to take less than half her dowry, or unless the husband
be so generous as to give her more than half, or the whole ; which is here approved
of as most commendable.
■i Yahya interprets this from a tradition of Mohammed, who being asked which
was the middle prayer, answered, The evening prayer, which was instituted by the
prophet Solomon. But Jallalo'ddin allows a greater latitude, and supposes it may
be the afternoon prayer, the morning prayer, the noon prayer, or any other.