سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 35
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ شِقَاقَ بَيْنِهِمَا فَٱبْعَثُوا۟ حَكَمًا مِّنْ أَهْلِهِۦ وَحَكَمًا مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن يُرِيدَآ إِصْلَـٰحًا يُوَفِّقِ ٱللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا خَبِيرًا ﴿35﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
If you fear a breach between them twain (the man and his wife), appoint (two) arbitrators, one from his family and the other from her’s; if they both wish for peace, Allâh will cause their reconciliation. Indeed Allâh is Ever All-Knower, Well-Acquainted with all things.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِنْ
wa-in
And if
خِفْتُمْ
khif'tum
you fear
شِقَاقَ
shiqāqa
a dissension
بَيْنِهِمَا
baynihimā
between (the) two of them
فَٱبْعَثُوا۟
fa-ib'ʿathū
then send
حَكَمًۭا
ḥakaman
an arbitrator
مِّنْ
min
from
أَهْلِهِۦ
ahlihi
his family
وَحَكَمًۭا
waḥakaman
and an arbitrator
مِّنْ
min
from
أَهْلِهَآ
ahlihā
her family
إِن
in
If
يُرِيدَآ
yurīdā
they both wish
إِصْلَـٰحًۭا
iṣ'lāḥan
reconciliation
يُوَفِّقِ
yuwaffiqi
will cause reconciliation
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
بَيْنَهُمَآ ۗ
baynahumā
between both of them
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
كَانَ
kāna
is
عَلِيمًا
ʿalīman
All-Knower
خَبِيرًۭا
khabīran
All-Aware
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
35. And if you fear a breach between the two (husband and wife) [61], appoint an arbitrator from his family and an arbitrator from her family. If they both desire reconciliation [62], Allah will cause it between them. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.
[61]
Arbitration Decision Between Spouses:
And if the relationship between husband and wife is not improving and each of them is blaming the other, then before divorce, both parties should appoint arbitrators from their respective families who, after understanding the entire situation, should sincerely try to bring about reconciliation. These arbitrators can be one person from each side, or two from each, or even three from each. Whatever arrangement is mutually agreed upon by both husband and wife can be adopted.
[62] Here, "both" can refer to the husband and wife, or to the arbitrators from both sides. That is, if their intention is good, Allah Almighty will surely create a way for reconciliation between the spouses. Here, the question arises that if the arbitrators succeed in bringing about a compromise, then that is the desired outcome. But if they reach the conclusion that there is no solution except separation, do they also have the authority (i.e., to have the man pronounce divorce or to grant khula) or not? According to most scholars, this arbitration bench does have this authority because it is also a kind of court. And some scholars say that such authority belongs only to the court, and this bench can present its recommendations before the court. The court itself can exercise this authority, or it can delegate this authority to the arbitration bench, or, if it wishes, it can appoint a separate bench from its side and grant it this authority. As is the case nowadays, such powers have been delegated to Union Councils in our country.
[61]
Arbitration Decision Between Spouses:
And if the relationship between husband and wife is not improving and each of them is blaming the other, then before divorce, both parties should appoint arbitrators from their respective families who, after understanding the entire situation, should sincerely try to bring about reconciliation. These arbitrators can be one person from each side, or two from each, or even three from each. Whatever arrangement is mutually agreed upon by both husband and wife can be adopted.
[62] Here, "both" can refer to the husband and wife, or to the arbitrators from both sides. That is, if their intention is good, Allah Almighty will surely create a way for reconciliation between the spouses. Here, the question arises that if the arbitrators succeed in bringing about a compromise, then that is the desired outcome. But if they reach the conclusion that there is no solution except separation, do they also have the authority (i.e., to have the man pronounce divorce or to grant khula) or not? According to most scholars, this arbitration bench does have this authority because it is also a kind of court. And some scholars say that such authority belongs only to the court, and this bench can present its recommendations before the court. The court itself can exercise this authority, or it can delegate this authority to the arbitration bench, or, if it wishes, it can appoint a separate bench from its side and grant it this authority. As is the case nowadays, such powers have been delegated to Union Councils in our country.
