[820] Afḍā is to engage in acts of intimacy which are sexual in nature (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Saʿdī).
[821] This ‘solemn pledge’ is the marriage contract which stipulates their rights and bases the relationship on the principle to: “…either hold them in agreeably or let ˹them˺ go gracefully”. (2:229) (Cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Saʿdī) Such a breakup which is based on harassing the wife to give up some of her rights and/or return back some of the dowry is far from ‘graceful’!