Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Zadhan (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that we were sitting with Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) when he was asked about the matter of choice (ikhtiyar). He said that Ameer-ul-Mu'mineen Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) had asked me about this, so I said that if she chooses herself, then it is one irrevocable divorce (ba'inah), and if she chooses her husband, then it is one divorce, and the husband has more right to take her back. He (Umar) said, "What you have said is not correct. If she chooses herself, then it is one divorce and the man has more right to take her back, and if she chooses her husband, then nothing is binding and the man is more entitled to the woman." After Ameer-ul-Mu'mineen said this, I had no choice but to follow him. When I was made the leader and marriage issues began to be brought to me, I again adopted my previous opinion. It was said to him, "The opinion you hold in front of the congregation is more preferable to us than your solitary opinion." At this, Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) smiled and said that they sent a message to Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) and asked about this issue, so he said, "If she chooses herself, then three divorces have taken place, and if she chooses her husband, then it is one divorce."