Overall meaning : Allah Almighty clarifies some provisions regarding spouses and what ought to be done in case of aversion and disagreement between them. He states that if a woman has reason to fear ill-treatment or desertion on the part of her husband, they will incur no sin if they seek reconciliation and settle all matters between themselves amicably. He stresses that reconciliation and amicable settlement by making some concessions is far better than separation and divorce. People stubbornly cling to their rights and are naturally disinclined to offer concessions, which is bound to make reconciliation impossible, and thus they should give up selfishness and make some concessions for the sake of reconciliation. He then encourages doing all things well, such as by worshipping Him as He ought to be worshipped, and showing kindness to others in all circumstances, an example of which is the kindness with which husbands should treat their wives even if they dislike them, by being patient with them, endeavouring to treat them fairly and honourably and giving them their full rights, in addition to fearing Him and being mindful of Him. He promises that if they do this, He will reward them generously, for He is fully aware of all their actions and He will not deny them their reward.
The Almighty then informs husbands that they cannot possibly establish absolute equality between their wives with respect to love and emotional attachment, however much they may desire to do so, and so He forbids them to incline wholly to one, keeping the other in a state of being neither properly married to him nor properly divorced. But if they effect a reconciliation with their wives, He states, and treat them with kindness and be mindful of Him by not wronging them, He will forgive them and have mercy on them, for He is surely All-Forgiving, All-Merciful. And if husband and wife do separate and cannot live together anymore after all means of reconciliation have failed, He will provide for each of them out of His abundance, for He is All-Munificent, All-Wise.