The Book of the Most Holy CHAPTER NINE

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Division 286-310

THE MOST HOLY

286.

It hath been decreed by God that, should any one of His servants intend to travel,

he must fix for his wife a time when he will return home.

287.

If he return by the promised time,

he will have obeyed the bidding of his Lord

and shall be numbered by the Pen of His behest among the righteous;

288.

otherwise, if there be good reason for delay,

he must inform his wife and make the utmost endeavour to return to her.

289.

Should neither of these eventualities occur,

it behoveth her to wait for a period of nine months,

after which there is no impediment to her taking another husband;

but should she wait longer, God, verily, loveth those women and men who show forth patience.

290.

Obey ye My commandments, and follow not the ungodly,

they who have been reckoned as sinners in God's Holy Tablet.

291.

If, during the period of her waiting,

word should reach her from her husband, she should choose the course that is praiseworthy.

292.

He, of a truth, desireth that His servants and His handmaids should be at peace with one another; take heed lest ye do aught that may provoke intransigence amongst you.

293.

Thus hath the decree been fixed and the promise come to pass.

294.

If, however, news should reach her of her husband's death or murder,

and be confirmed by general report, or by the testimony of two just witnesses,

it behoveth her to remain single;

then, upon completion of the fixed number of months,

she is free to adopt the course of her choosing.

295.

Such is the bidding of Him Who is mighty and powerful in His command.

296.

Should resentment or antipathy arise between husband and wife, he is not to divorce her but to bide in patience throughout the course of one whole year, that perchance the fragrance of affection may be renewed between them.

297.

If, upon the completion of this period, their love hath not returned,

it is permissible for divorce to take place.

298.

God's wisdom, verily, hath encompassed all things.

299.

The Lord hath prohibited, in a Tablet inscribed by the Pen of His command, the practice to which ye formerly had recourse when thrice ye had divorced a woman.

300.

This He hath done as a favour on His part, that ye may be accounted among the thankful.

301.

He who hath divorced his wife may choose, upon the passing of each month, to remarry her when there is mutual affection and consent, so long as she hath not taken another husband.

302.

Should she have wed again, then, by this other union,

the separation is confirmed and the matter is concluded, unless, clearly her circumstances change.

303.

Thus hath the decree been inscribed with majesty in this glorious Tablet by Him Who is the Dawning-place of Beauty.

304.

If the wife accompany her husband on a journey, and differences arise between them on the way, he is required to provide her with her expenses for one whole year,

and either to return her whence she came or to entrust her,

together with the necessaries for her journey, to a dependable person who is to escort her home.

305.

Thy Lord, verily, ordaineth as He pleaseth,

by virtue of a sovereignty that overshadoweth the peoples of the earth.

306.

Should a woman be divorced in consequence of a proven act of infidelity, she shall receive no maintenance during her period of waiting.

307.

Thus hath the day-star of Our commandment shone forth resplendent from the firmament of justice.

308.

Truly, the Lord loveth union and harmony and abhorreth separation and divorce.

309.

Live ye one with another, O people, in radiance and joy.

310.

By My life! All that are on earth shall pass away, while good deeds alone shall endure;

to the truth of My words God doth Himself bear witness.

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