The Koran, and Islam in general is obviously and decidedly a misogynistic tool. There is little in the Koran which elevates women. It is quite clear that hierarchy exists within the Muslim world, with Arab males at the top and female slaves near the bottom. This Sur a outlines the 'laws' regarding divorce and its first seven verses are the only verses in the Koran which one can consider to be 'nice' to women. For in these verses there are commands given by the impersonal force and thing Allah, on how men should approach a divorce – but as usual with the Koran, the text is so badly written and garbled that any number of interpretations can be collected from its reading:
O Prophet! When you do divorce women, divorce them at their prescribed periods, and count (accurately) their prescribed periods: and fear Allah your Lord: and do not turn them out of their houses, nor shall they (themselves) leave, except in case they are guilty of some open lewdness, those are limits set by Allah...” [65:1]
This sounds reasonable, but it is hardly a legal code. Koranic 'law' is as much of a myth as the Fascistic chant that Islam is peace. There is no law here, just a general code of conduct. So don't divorce your women – plural – unless they have misbehaved. Notice that Islam allows men polygamy, but not females. It takes for granted the inferior status of women. In Suras 4, 9, 60 for instance which are written after this Sura, and elsewhere in the Koran, it is pretty clear that women do not have the same rights as men [they are half the value of a man]; and that a man can simply divorce a woman by saying 'I divorce you' three times. Thus the fallacy of quoting Sura 65 as an example of glowing female 'rights' within Islam is that the entire notion of female equality within the Koranic cult is false, and this Sura is anyways superseded by later Suras which in Islamic theology are far more important than earlier Suras.
In any event, it is heartening to read a few lines in which something 'nice' is revealed. Thus parts of this Sura would fit into the 2 % of the Koran which has anything nice to say at all. It appears that early on, when they were weak, the Mohammed cult viewed the attraction of women as singularly important. Female converts were necessary to breed Muslim boys or Ghazi [warriors]; and to provide an infrastructure of house, food, and sex for the men. Any leader as cunning and devious as the demonic Mohammed, would have necessarily targeted the fairer sex for conversion – notwithstanding his own insatiable lust for sex and women. Mohammed of course had over 12 sex slaves to satisfy his raging desires.
Given the true poverty and paucity of Arab-Bedouin life in the 7th century, and the lack of a means to afford even a most basic welfare state, which one does find in early Jewish and Christian societies, it is not a surprise to hear that Mohammed or Allah [the two are the same]; want men to take care of the female – boys after all need to be bred:
“Let the women live (in 'iddat) in the same style as you live, according to your means...And if they carry (life in their wombs), then spend (your substance) on them until they deliver their burden:” [65:6]
The pregnancy was an opportunity, especially if the child is a male. If you had 4 wives you were expected to impregnate each and every one and sire children and a stronger Umma or Muslim nation. So of course this Sura informs the male cult followers that they are responsible for the upkeep and upbringing of the polygamous family. Is this now a statement of female equality, rights and tolerance? Certainly the PC Marxist Fascists would say so. It is however, just a code of conduct to keep the Umma vibrant and to support the many sex slaves and married women which are so vital to a cult's development and the satisfaction of its male believers.
And what is a Sura without some Jew and Christian hate ? The believers will breed and be strong. Non-Muslims will be fought and tortured.
“How many populations that insolently opposed the command of their Lord and of His Messengers, did We not then call to account, - to severe account ? - and We imposed on them an exemplary punishment” [65:8]
The 'Judgment' against non-Muslims is of course eternal hellfire which is stated in over 250 passages in the Koran. In Koranic fantasy all nations who were destroyed by natural events [Sabea] or war [ancient Israel, Egypt, the Hittites etc.] received their justice due to Allah. They had rejected Islam, even before Islam was invented [how rational]. Not converting to Islam – even before it had existed – apparently is very annoying to the thing Allah [or Mohammed since they are the same voice]:
“Allah has prepared for them a severe punishment (in the Hereafter). Therefore fear Allah, O you men of understanding – who have believed ! - for Allah has indeed sent down to you a Message, -” [65:10]
The 'Message' is that the thing Allah rules or as the Koran endlessly repeats 'Allah knows all'. Follow the dictums of this dialectical force and you might be 'saved' – depending on how well you prostrate yourself and follow irrational, non-thinking rituals [as contained in the Hadiths for example, which manage everything from how you go to the toilet, to what prayers to say if it is too hot outside].
So while this Sura does contain some ideas on divorce, they share nothing in common with Western mores and laws about the same, nor do they espouse charity, tolerance or equality for women or infidels. Quite the opposite. The females are necessary for group strength. The infidels are necessary as a unifying object of hatred, and a casus belli for war and violence.
[Note: This sura is taken from 'The Holy Quran', translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, reprinted in 1995, Goodword Books. Regarded as one of the best translations from Arabic to English of the Koran.]