Concerning Divorce
Divorce in Islam
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things out by themselves. Their thinking about each
other in a way that is conditioned by their
maladjustment prevents them from arriving at a
just settlement of their differences, based on facts
rather than on opinions. In such a case, the best
strategy according to the Qur’an is to introduce a
third party who will act as an arbiter. Not having
any previous association with the matters under
dispute, he will remain dispassionate and will be
able to arrive at an objective decision acceptable to
both parties.
For any arbiter to be successful, however, the
husband and wife must also adopt the correct
attitude. Here is an incident from the period of the
four pious Caliphs, which will illustrate this point.
When ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib reigned as fourth Caliph, a
married couple complaining of marital discord
came to him to request a settlement. In the light of
the above-mentioned Qur’anic guidance ‘Ali
ordered that a board of arbiters, one from the
husband’s family and one from the wife’s family, be
set up, which should make proper enquiries into
the circumstances and then give its verdict. This
