ازدواجی تنازعات میں نظامِ ثالثی (حکمین): تفسیر التحریر والتنویر کا مقاصدی و سماجی تناظر

Arbitration (Ḥakamayn) in Resolving Marital Conflicts: A Maqāṣidī and Sociological Study of Tafsīr al-Taḥrīr wa-l-Tanwīr

Abstract

This study explores the Islamic arbitration system (hakamayn) in marital disputes through the teleological (maqasid) and social perspective of Sheikh Muhammad al-Tahir ibn Ashur’s seminal exegesis, Tafsir al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir. Marital discord (shiqaq), when unresolved by domestic remedies, necessitates external social and legal intervention to protect the familial unit. While classical Islamic jurisprudence remains divided on whether the arbitrating judges (hakamayn) act merely as agents (wakil) of the spouses or as independent judges (hakam) with the authority to enforce separation, Ibn Ashur strongly advocates for their judicial status. By prioritizing the higher objectives of Shari'ah (maqasid al-shari'ah)—such as maintaining social harmony, ensuring familial privacy, and preventing harm—this paper analyses how the arbitration framework serves as an effective, out-of-court dispute resolution model. The research employs a qualitative, comparative hermeneutical method, contrasting Ibn Ashur’s views with those of classical commentators like al-Razi, al-Qurtubi, and al-Alusi. The findings demonstrate that conceptualizing the arbitrators as judges rather than mere agents provides a more pragmatic and legally binding mechanism for conflict resolution. Ultimately, this paper highlights the contemporary relevance of Ibn Ashur's teleological framework in reforming family courts, reducing divorce rates, and establishing community-based arbitration committees in modern Muslim societies.