Ali Quli Qarai, The Qur’ān with a Phrase-by-Phrase English Translation (2005)
and Allah is all-mighty and all-wise.
229 [Revocable] divorce may be only twice;
then [let there be] either an honourable retention,
or a kindly release.
And it is not lawful for you to take back anything
from what you have given them,1
unless the couple fear that they may not maintain
Allah’s bounds.
So if you fear they would not maintain Allah’s bounds,
there is no sin upon them 2
in what she may give to secure her release.
These are Allah’s bounds, so do not transgress them,
and whoever transgresses the bounds of Allah
— it is they who are the wrongdoers.
230 And if he divorces her,
she will not be lawful for him until she marries
a husband other than him,
and if he divorces her,3
there is no sin upon them to remarry
if they think that they can maintain Allah’s bounds.
These are Allah’s bounds, which He clarifies
for a people who have knowledge.
231 When you divorce women
and they complete their term,
then either retain them honourably
or release them honourably,
and do not retain them maliciously
1 That is, to the wives.
2 That is, the husband and wife.
3 That is, after she has been divorced by the second husband, the two of them may remarry if they think they can maintain a healthy marital relationship.
