The Two Arbitrators in the case of Discord

“I once asked the virtuous servant of Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘If you are afraid of discord between them then send one arbitrator from his people and another from her people.’ (4:35) He (the Imam) then said, ‘The two arbitrators stipulate upon them that their decision to separate or bring them together must be treated binding and on that basis if they separate or bring them together it is permissible.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘If you are afraid of discord between them then send one arbitrators from his people and another from her people.’ (4:35) He (the Imam) said, ‘The arbitrator cannot separate or unite them without first getting approval from the man and woman and a stipulation that their decision of separating or uniting them must be treated binding. Thus, if they decided for separation or unification it is permissible.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘If you are afraid of discord between them then send one arbitrators from his people and another from her people.’ (4:35) He (the Imam) said, ‘The two arbitrators stipulate upon them that their decision to separate or to bring them together must be treated binding and on that basis if they separate or bring them together it is permissible.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . an arbitrator from his people and an arbitrator from her people’ who then by the permission of both parties and with their stipulation that their decision must be accepted as binding. They then agree in the presence of witnesses; if the decision of the arbitrators to separate them is permissible. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is permissible, however, it must take place in a Hayd (menses)-free period and without sexual intercourse by the husband.’ It then was asked, ‘What happens if one of the arbitrators decides to separate them and the other disagrees?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It cannot take place unless they both agree for separation. If they both agreed then separation is permissible.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about, ‘If you are afraid of discord between them then send one arbitrator from his people and another from her people.’ (4:35) He (the Imam) said, ‘They cannot decide to separate them without previous authorization of their decision by the parties (the wife and husband).’