4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from abu Ayyub from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah , about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . an arbitrator from his people and an arbitrator from her people’ who then by the permission of both parties and with their stipulation that their decision must be accepted as binding. They then agree in the presence of witnesses; if the decision of the arbitrators to separate them is permissible. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is permissible, however, it must take place in a Hayd (menses)-free period and without sexual intercourse by the husband.’ It then was asked, ‘What happens if one of the arbitrators decides to separate them and the other disagrees?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It cannot take place unless they both agree for separation. If they both agreed then separation is permissible.’”