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qad samiʿa llāhu qawla llatī tujādiluka fī zawjihā wa-tashtakī ʾilā llāhi wa-llāhu yasmaʿu taḥāwurakumā ʾinna llāha samīʿun baṣīrun-i
Allah has certainly heard the speech of her who pleads with you about her husband and complains to Allah. Allah hears the conversation between the two of you. Indeed Allah is all-hearing, all-seeing.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Mujadila - Verse 1
1. Verily Allah has heard the statement of the woman who disputed with you concerning her husband and complained to Allah. And Allah hears the argument between you both. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Seer.
There was a kind of divorce in pre-Islamic times called zihar as per which the husband was not allowed to revoke the divorce nor was the wife allowed to remarry. A certain man divorced his wife in this manner at the time of the Prophet of the Islamic faith (S) thus addressing her:
"You are to me like my mother's back."
The man came unto the Noble Prophet (S) and informed him of the case. The Noble Prophet (S) said:
"Allah has not specified such law."
Terrified, the woman said:
"I complain to Allah about my misfortune and my lost youth and health. If I leave my children to my husband, they will be ruined. If they stay with me, they will starve."
The blessed Verses of the Chapter in question were revealed before long according to which whoever acts in this fashion will be required to expiate. Further, it is said that there is no divorce. Since the husband could not afford to purchase a slave and act upon the manumission ordainment nor could he feed sixty poor people nor was he able to fast for two months, the Noble Prophet of Islam (S) rendered him some sufficient aid such that he could feed sixty poor people and thus expiated his sin and returned to his former life.1
It is worthy of note that in the blessed Verse in question, God Almighty says three times that He is the All-Hearing (sami‘) and people may speak unto Him. Thus, it is incumbent upon us to take heed of our words, since God Almighty hears them. He hears our supplications and invocations. Therefore, we may invoke him to answer our prayers. We may take refuge in God Almighty in vicissitudes.
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