طلق

Core meaning

To release what was held back: to undo the marriage bond, to set off, to let the tongue loosen.

Uses

1. طَلَّقَ, ٱلطَّلَٰق → "to repudiate", "repudiation" : to undo the marriage bond, according to terms and rules the text sets.

   • «ٱلطَّلَٰقُ مَرَّتَانِ» — "Repudiation is twice" (2:229)
   • «إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ» — "When you repudiate women, repudiate them with regard to their prescribed waiting period" (65:1)

2. ٱلْمُطَلَّقَٰت → "repudiated women" : those whose bond has been undone, and whom the text protects.

   • «وَلِلْمُطَلَّقَٰتِ مَتَٰعٌۢ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ» — "And for repudiated women, an enjoyment according to what is recognized" (2:241)

3. ٱنطَلَقَ → "to set off", "to set out", "to depart" : to detach oneself from a place and get moving.

   • «فَٱنطَلَقَا» — "So they set off" (18:71)
   • «فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ» — "So they set out, talking to one another in undertones" (68:23)

4. يَنطَلِقُ لِسَانِى → "my tongue loosens" : speech that frees itself; said in the negative by Moussa.

   • «وَلَا يَنطَلِقُ لِسَانِى» — "and my tongue will not loosen" (26:13)

Evidence from the text

The three uses make a single gesture: releasing what held. The marriage bond is undone, and the text frames this release: twice only (2:229); a term to be observed (2:228, 65:1); a possible return (2:230); an enjoyment owed to repudiated women (2:241); before any touch, no waiting period to count (33:49).

The motionless body sets off: Moussa and his companion set off three times, toward three trials (18:71, 18:74, 18:77); the court sets out (38:6); the owners of the garden set out in the morning (68:23). And the held tongue loosens, or does not: Moussa fears that "my tongue will not loosen" (26:13).

Distinctions

• سرح — to release: to let the woman go at the end of the term, whereas طَلَّقَ undoes the bond itself

See also

عدد (the prescribed period) · نكح (to marry)