One Arbiter From Both Folks

LESSON # 501 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

One Arbiter From Both Folks

Surah NISAAA’  (WOMEN) - Chapter - 4)

Verses –35 of 176, Section –6/24 (Part – 5)

And if ye fear a breach between them twain (the man and wife), appoint an arbiter from his folk and an arbiter from her folk. If they desire settlement, Allah will make them of one mind. Lo! Allah is Ever – Knower, Aware.

Wa  ‘in-khiftum  shiqaaqa  baynihimaa  fab-‘asuu  haka-mam-min  ‘ahlihii  wa  haka-mam-min  ‘ahlihaa.  ‘Iny-yurii-daaa  ‘islaahany-  yuwaffi-qillaa-hu  baynahumaa.  ‘Innallaaha  kaana  ‘Aliiman  Khabiiraa.

 

Lesson

Three methods for correction of disobedient, indecent and uncivil wives were told in the previous verse as for those women from whom you fear desertion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Now it is being described that if these methods fail, then what should you do?

Allah Almighty says, “If you fear a breach between them twain (the husband and the wife) and they do not make a truce mutually, then you should appoint an arbiter from his folk and an arbiter from her folk. If they desire settlement and betterment of these miserable circumstances sincerely and whole-heartedly, then Allah Almighty shall create any form of agreement and make them of one mind.”

Unevenness in the matrimonial life was found everywhere in the world before Islam. The women were not given any right anywhere. The wife was considered worse than tongue-less animal and less than slave and bondmaid. Islam provided her a specific dignity as daughter, sister, wife and mother. Overall, it determined her rights and grades in each relationship.

There was some other badness in many religions that there was no religious and legal form of separation after once married, and some of them had made the separation a pleasantry. The husbands used to away their wives at a little matter. Holy Qur’an made correction and modified above both forms.  

In case of dispute, at first it was told that the husband should try to correct the matters personally. Now it is being commanded that whenever it becomes impossible, then the dispute should be tried to settle through the arbiters of the folks. Stage of divorce should come at very end, which is considered a worse act out of the lawful deeds.   

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’an published By Idara Islah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English  by Muhammad Sharif).