Tafsir of An-Nisa' 4:35

"And if you fear a breach between them..."

"A breach between them" Its origin is "a breach [occurring] between them." The breach is attributed to the adverbial of place (the zarf) by way of expansion (ittisa‘), similar to His saying: "Nay, [it was] the plotting of night and day" (Saba: 33). Its origin is "Nay, [it was] plotting in the night and day," or it is based on making the "between" the subject of the breach, and the "night and day" the plotters, according to their saying: "Your day is fasting." The pronoun refers to the spouses, even though they were not explicitly mentioned; however, what indicates them has been mentioned, namely "men" and "women."

"An arbiter from his family" A qualified, agreeable man capable of fair judgment and reconciliation between them. The sending of two arbiters from their families is because relatives are more knowledgeable of inner circumstances and more eager for reconciliation. The souls of the spouses are more at ease with them, and they reveal to them what is in their consciences regarding love, hatred, the desire for companionship or separation, the causes and requirements of these, and what they conceal from strangers and do not wish for them to discover.

If you ask: Do they have the authority to reconcile them or separate them if they see fit? I say: There is a difference of opinion regarding this. It is said: They do not have this authority except with the permission of the spouses. It is also said: That authority belongs to them, and they were only appointed as arbiters so that the matter would be in their hands, based on what their independent judgment (ijtihad) requires.

It is narrated from ‘Ubaydah al-Salmani: I witnessed ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) when a woman and her husband came to him, each accompanied by a group of people. They brought forth an arbiter from each side. ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to the two arbiters: "Do you know what is upon you? It is upon you that if you see fit to separate them, you separate them, and if you see fit to reconcile them, you reconcile them." The husband said: "As for separation, no." ‘Ali said: "You lie, by Allah! You shall not leave until you accept what is in the Book of Allah for you and against you." The woman said: "I accept what is in the Book of Allah for me and against me."

It is narrated from al-Hasan: They reconcile but do not separate. From al-Sha‘bi: Whatever the two arbiters decide is binding.

"If they desire reconciliation" The pronoun refers to the two arbiters.

"Allah will restore harmony between them" The pronoun refers to the two spouses. That is: If the arbiters intend to reconcile the relationship and their intentions are sincere and their hearts are advising for the sake of Allah, their mediation will be blessed. Allah will cause harmony and intimacy to occur between the spouses through the purity of the arbiters' souls and the goodness of their efforts, and He will cast affection and mercy into their [the spouses'] souls.

It is also said: Both pronouns refer to the two arbiters. That is: If they intend to reconcile the relationship and advise the spouses, Allah will grant them success in their task, so they will agree on a single word and support one another in seeking harmony until the goal is achieved and the objective is fulfilled.

It is also said: Both pronouns refer to the two spouses. That is: If they desire to reconcile what is between them, seek good, and wish for the breach to be removed, Allah will cast intimacy between them and replace their breach with harmony, and their hatred with affection.

"Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing, Acquainted" He knows how to reconcile those who differ and bring together those who are separated. "If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together; but Allah brought them together" (Al-Anfal: 63).