And he shall compel them to fairness. If that is not achieved and the evil between them persists, and discord and disobedience are feared for them, the ruler shall send an arbitrator from his family and an arbitrator from her family. They shall look into their situation and do what they see as being in their best interest, whether by reconciliation or separation, due to the saying of God Almighty: {And if you fear discord between them, then send an arbitrator from his family and an arbitrator from her family. If they both desire reconciliation, God will cause agreement between them} [2]. There is a difference of opinion narrated from Ahmad, may God have mercy on him, regarding the two arbitrators. In one of the two narrations from him, they are agents for the spouses and possess no authority to separate them [3] except with their permission. This is the school of Ata and one of the two opinions of al-Shafi'i. This was also narrated from al-Hasan and Abu Hanifah, because the intimate relationship (bud') is his right and the wealth is her right, and since both are competent (rashidan), it is not permissible for others to dispose of their affairs except through agency from them or guardianship over them. The second [narration] is that they are judges, and they have the authority to do what they see fit of reconciliation or separation, with or without compensation, and they do not need the authorization or the consent of the spouses. Something similar was narrated from Ali, Ibn Abbas, Abu Salamah bin Abd al-Rahman, al-Sha'bi, al-Nakha'i, Sa'id bin Jubayr, Malik, al-Awza'i, Ishaq, and Ibn al-Mundhir, due to the saying of God Almighty: {Then send an arbitrator from his family and an arbitrator from her family}. He called them two arbitrators and did not consider the consent of the spouses, then said: {If they both desire reconciliation}, thus addressing the two arbitrators with that. Abu Bakr narrated with his chain of transmission from Ubaydah al-Salmani that a man and a woman came to Ali, each accompanied by a group (fi'am) of people. Ali, may God be pleased with him, said: Send an arbitrator from his family and an arbitrator from her family. They sent two arbitrators, then Ali said to the two arbitrators: Do you know what you are entitled to of rights [5]? If you see fit to reconcile, then reconcile, and if you see fit to separate, then separate. The woman said: I am satisfied with the Book of God [as my judge] over me and for me. The man said: As for separation, no. Ali said: You shall not speak until you are satisfied with what she is satisfied with [6]. This indicates that he forced him to accept that.