The Light — Verse 7

Details of Al-Li`an This Ayah offers a way out for husbands. If a husband has accused his wife but cannot come up with proof, he can swear the Li`an (the oath of condemnation) as Allah commanded. This means that he brings her before the Imam and states what he is accusing her of. The ruler then asks him to swear four times by Allah in front of four witnesses إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَ (that he is one of those who speak the truth) in his accusation of her adultery. وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْكَـذِبِينَ (And the fifth; the invoking of the curse of Allah on him if he be of those who tell a lie.) If he says that, then she is divorced from him by the very act of this Li`an; she is forever forbidden for him and he must give her Mahr to her. The punishment for Zina should be carried out on her, and nothing can prevent the punishment except if she also swears the oath of condemnation (Li`an) and swears by Allah four times that he is one of those who lied, i.e., in what he is accusing her of; وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَ (And the fifth; should be that the crath of Allah be upon her if he speaks the truth.) Allah says: وَيَدْرَؤُاْ عَنْهَا الْعَذَابَ (But she shall avert the punishment) meaning, the prescribed punishment. وَيَدْرَؤُاْ عَنْهَا الْعَذَابَ أَن تَشْهَدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَـذِبِينَ - وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَ (if she bears witness four times by Allah, that he is telling a lie. And the fifth; should be that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he speaks the truth.) The wrath of Allah is mentioned specially in the case of the woman, because usually a man would not go to the extent of exposing his wife and accusing her of Zina unless he is telling the truth and has good reason to do this, and she knows that what he is accusing her of is true. So in her case the fifth testimony calls for the wrath of Allah to be upon her, for the one upon whom is the wrath of Allah, is the one who knows the truth yet deviates from it. Then Allah mentions His grace and kindness to His creation in that He has prescribed for them a way out of their difficulties. Allah says: وَلَوْلاَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ (And had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy on you!) meaning, many of your affairs would have been too difficult for you, وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ (And that Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance,) means, from His servants, even if that comes after they have sworn a confirmed oath. حَكِيمٌ (the All-Wise. ) in what He prescribes and commands and forbids. There are Hadiths which explain how we are to put this Ayah into effect, why it was revealed and concerning whom among the Companions it was revealed. The Reason why the Ayah of Li`an was revealed Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas said: "When the Ayah وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ الْمُحْصَنَـتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْتُواْ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ فَاجْلِدُوهُمْ ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً وَلاَ تَقْبَلُواْ لَهُمْ شَهَادَةً أَبَداً (And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever) 24:4 was revealed, Sa`d bin `Ubadah, may Allah be pleased with him, -- the leader of the Ansar -- said, `Is this how it was revealed, O Messenger of Allah' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «يَا مَعْشَرَ الْأَنْصَارِ أَلَا تَسْمَعُونَ مَا يَقُولُ سَيِّدُكُمْ؟» (O Ansar, did you hear what your leader said) They said, `O Messenger of Allah, do not blame him, for he is a jealous man. By Allah, he never married a woman who was not a virgin, and he never divorced a woman but none of us would dare to marry her because he is so jealous.' Sa`d said, `By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, I know that it (the Ayah) is true and is from Allah, but I am surprised. If I found some wicked man lying down with my wife, should I not disturb him until I have brought four witnesses By Allah, he would have finished what he was doing before I could bring them!' A little while later, Hilal bin Umayyah -- one of the three whose repentance had been accepted -- came back from his lands at night and found a man with his wife. He saw with his own eyes and heard with his own ears, but he did not disturb him until the morning. In the morning he went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, `O Messenger of Allah, I came to my wife at night and found a man with her, and I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not like what he had said and got very upset. The Ansar gathered around him and said, `We were being tested by what Sa`d bin Ubadah said, and now the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will punish Hilal bin Umayyah and declare his testimony before people to be unacceptable.' Hilal said: `By Allah, I hope that Allah will make for me a way out from this problem.' Hilal said, `O Messenger of Allah, I see how upset you are by what I have said, but Allah knows that I am telling the truth.' By Allah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wanted to have him flogged, but then Allah sent revelation to His Messenger . When the revelation came upon him, they knew about it from the change in his face, so they would leave him alone until the revelation was finished. Allah revealed the Ayah: وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُمْ شُهَدَآءُ إِلاَّ أَنفُسُهُمْ فَشَهَـدَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَرْبَعُ شَهَـدَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ (And for those who accuse their wives, but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies by Allah...,) Then the revelation was finished and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «أَبْشِرْ يَا هِلَالُ فَقَدْ جَعَلَ اللهُ لَكَ فَرَجًا وَمَخْرَجًا» (Rejoice, O Hilal, for Allah has made a way out for you.) Hilal said, `I had been hoping for this from my Lord, may He be glorified.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «أَرْسِلُوا إِلَيْهَا» (Send for her.) So they sent for her and she came. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited this Ayah to them both, and reminded them that the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe than the punishment in this world. Hilal said, `By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, I have spoken the truth about her.' She said, `He is lying.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَاعِنُوا بَيْنَهُمَا» (Make them both swear the Li`an.) So Hilal was told, `Testify.' So he testified four times by Allah that he was one of those who speak the truth. When he came to the fifth testimony, he was told, `O Hilal, have Taqwa of Allah, for the punishment of this world is easier than the punishment of the Hereafter, and this will mean that the punishment will be inevitable for you.' He said, `By Allah, Allah will not punish me for it, just as He has not caused me to be flogged for it.' So he testified for the fifth time that the curse of Allah would be upon him if he was telling a lie. Then it was said to his wife, `Testify four times by Allah that he is telling a lie.' And when his wife reached the fifth testimony, she was told, `Have Taqwa of Allah, for the punishment of this world is easier than the punishment of the Hereafter, and this will mean that the punishment will be inevitable for you.' She hesitated for a while, and was about to admit her guilt, then she said: `By Allah, I will not expose my people to shame, and she swore the fifth oath that the wrath of Allah would be upon her if he was telling the truth.' Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ separated them, and decreed that her child should not be attributed to any father, nor should the child be accused, and whoever accused her or her child, they would be subject to punishment. He also decreed that Hilal was not obliged to house her or feed her, because they had not been separated by divorce, nor had he died and left her a widow. He said, «إِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أُصَيْهِبَ (أُرَيْسِحَ) حَمْشَ السَّاقَيْنِ، فَهُوَ لِهِلَالٍ، وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَوْرَقَ جَعَدًا جُمَالِيًّا خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ سَابِغَ الْأَلْيَتَيْنِ، فَهُوَ لِلَّذِي رُمِيَتْتِبهِ» (If she gives birth to a red-haired child (with skinny thighs) and thin legs, then he is Hilal's child, but if she gives birth to a curly-haired child with thick legs and plump buttocks, then this is what she is accused of.) She subsequently gave birth to a child who was curly-haired with thick legs and plump buttocks, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَوْلَا الْأَيْمَانُ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ» (Were it not for the oath that she swore, I would deal with her.)" `Ikrimah said, "The child grew up to become the governor of Egypt, and he was given his mother's name and was not attributed to any father." Abu Dawud recorded a similar but briefer report. This Hadith has corroborating reports in the books of Sahih and elsewhere, with many chains of narration, including the report narrated by Al-Bukhari from Ibn `Abbas, that Hilal bin Umayyah accused his wife before the Prophet with Sharik bin Sahma'. The Prophet said, «الْبَيِّنَةَ أَوْحَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ» (Evidence or the punishment on your back.) He said, "O Messenger of Allah, if any one of us saw a man with his wife, how could he go and get evidence" The Prophet again said, «الْبَيِّنَةَ وَإِلَّاحَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ» (Evidence otherwise the punishment on your back.) Hilal said, "By the One Who sent you with the truth! I am telling the truth and Allah will reveal something that will protect my back from the punishment. " Then Jibril came down and brought the revelation, وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَجَهُمْ (And for those who accuse their wives,) Then he recited until he reached: إِن كَانَ مِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَ (that he is one of those who speak the truth) 24:6. When the revelation had finished, the Prophet sent for them both. Hilal came and gave his testimony, and the Prophet said, «إِنَّ اللهَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ، فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبٌ؟» (Allah knows that one of you is lying. Will one of you repent) Then she stood up and gave her testimony, and when she reached the fifth oath, they stopped her and said, "If you swear the fifth oath and you are lying, the curse of Allah will be inevitable." Ibn `Abbas said, "She hesitated and kept quiet until we thought that she had changed her mind, then she said, `I will not dishonor my people today', and she went ahead. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «أَبْصِرُوهَا، فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ سَابِغَ الْأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ، فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ ابْنِ سَحْمَاءَ» (Wait until she gives birth, and if she gives birth to a child whose eyes look as if they are ringed with kohl and who has plump buttocks and thick legs, then he is the child of Sharik bin Sahma'.) She gave birth to a child who matched this description, and the Prophet said, «لَوْلَا مَا مَضَى مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ لَكَانَ لِي وَ لَهَا شَأْنٌ» (Were it not for the Book of Allah, I would deal with her.) This version was recorded only by Al-Bukhari, but the event has been narrated with additional chains of narration from Ibn `Abbas and others. Imam Ahmad recorded that Sa`id bin Jubayr said: During the governorship of Ibn Az-Zubayr I was asked about the couple who engage in Li`an, and whether they should be separated, and I did not know the answer. I got up and went to the house of Ibn `Umar, and said, "O Abu `Abdur-Rahman, should the couple who engage in Li`an be separated" He said, "Subhan Allah, the first one to ask about this was so-and-so the son of so-and-so. He said, `O Messenger of Allah, what do you think of a man who sees his wife committing an immoral sin If he speaks he will be speaking about something very serious, and if he keeps quiet he will be keeping quiet about something very serious.' The Prophet kept quiet and did not answer him. Later on, he came to him and said, `What I asked you about is something with which I myself being tested with.' Then Allah revealed the Ayat, وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَجَهُمْ (And for those who accuse their wives,) until he reached: أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَ (That the wrath of Allah be upon her if he speaks the truth.) He started to advise the man and remind him about Allah, and told him that the punishment of this world is easier than the punishment of the Hereafter. The man said: `By the One Who sent you with the truth, I was not telling you a lie.' Then the Prophet turned to the woman and advised the woman and reminded her about Allah, and told her that the punishment of this world is easier than the punishment of the Hereafter. The woman said, `By the One Who sent you with the truth, he is lying.' So the Prophet started with the man, who swore four times by Allah that he was one of those who speak the truth, and swore the fifth oath that the curse of Allah would be upon him if he were lying. Then he turned to the woman, who swore four times by Allah that he was lying, and swore the fifth oath that the wrath of Allah would be upon her if he was telling the truth. Then he separated them." It was also recorded by An-Nasa'i in his Tafsir, and by Al-Bukhari and Muslim in the Two Sahihs.

and a fifth time that God’s wrath shall be upon him if he were lying in this the predicate of the subject fa-shahādatu ahadihim ‘then the testimony of one of them’ is the implicit ‘will spare him the prescribed legal punishment for false accusation’.

والذين يرمون زوجاتهم بالزنى، ولم يكن لهم شهداء على اتهامهم لهنَّ إلا أنفسهم، فعلى الواحد منهم أن يشهد أمام القاضي أربع مرات بقوله: أشهد بالله أني صادق فيما رميتها به من الزنى، ويزيد في الشهادة الخامسة الدعوة على نفسه باستحقاقه لعنة الله إن كان كاذبًا في قوله.

فإذا قال ذلك بانت منه بنفس هذا اللعان عند الشافعي وطائفة كثيرة من العلماء وحرمت عليه أبدا ويعطيها مهرها ويتوجه عليها حد الزنا ولا يدرأ عنها العذاب إلا أن تلاعن فتشهد أربع شهادات بالله إنه لمن الكاذبين أي فيما رماها به.

وقوله - سبحانه - : ( والخامسة أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ الله عَلَيْهِ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الكاذبين ) بيان لما يجب على القاذف بعد أن شهد أربع شهادات بالله إنه لمن الصادقين .أى : والشهادة الخامسة بعد الأربع المتقدمة ، أن يشهد القاذف بأن لعنة الله - تعالى - عليه ، إن كان من الكاذبين ، فى رميه لزوجته بالزنا .قال الآلوسى : وإفرادها - أى الشهادة الخامسة - بالذكر ، مع كونها شهادة - أيضا - ، لاستقلالها بالفحوى ووكادتها فى إفادتها ما يقصد بالشهادة من تحقيق الخبر ، وإظهار الصدق . وهى مبتدأ ، خبره قوله - تعالى - ( لَعْنَةَ الله عَلَيْهِ ) .

والخامسة أن لعنة الله عليه إن كان من الكاذبين; ثم إن المرأة شهدت أربع شهادات بالله إنه لمن الكاذبين، والخامسة أن غَضَبَ الله عليها إن كان من الصادقين وفرق بينهما.حدثنا ابن المثنى، قال: ثنا ابن أبي عديّ، عن داود، عن عامر، قال: لما أنـزل: وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ فَاجْلِدُوهُمْ ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً قال عاصم بن عديّ: إن أنا رأيت فتكلمت جلدت ثمانين، وإن أنا سكت سكت على الغيظ، قال: فكأن ذلك شقّ على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، قال: فأنـزلت هذه الآية: ( وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلا أَنْفُسُهُمْ ) قال: فما لبثوا إلا جمعة، حتى كان بين رجل من قومه وبين امرأته، فلاعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بينهما.حدثني عليّ، قال: ثنا عبد الله، قال: ثني معاوية، عن علي، عن ابن عباس، قوله: ( وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلا أَنْفُسُهُمْ )... الآية، والخامسة: أن يقال له: إن عليك لعنة الله إن كنت من الكاذبين. وإن أقرّت المرأة بقوله رُجمت، وإن أنكرت شهدت أربع شهادات بالله: إنه لمن الكاذبين، والخامسة أن يقال لها: غضب الله عليك إن كان من الصادقين، فيدرأ عنها العذاب، ويفرق بينهما، فلا يجتمعان أبدا، ويُلحق الولد بأمه.حدثنا القاسم، قال: ثنا الحسين، قال: ثني حجاج، عن ابن جُرَيج، عن عكرمة، قوله: ( وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ ) قال: هلال بن أميَّة: والذي رميت به شريك بن سحماء، والذي استفتى عاصم بن عديّ.قال: ثني حجاج، عن ابن جُرَيج، قال: أخبرني الزهريّ عن الملاعنة والسنة فيها، عن حديث سهل بن سعد أن رجلا من الأنصار جاء إلى النبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فقال: أرأيت رجلا وجد مع امرأته رجلا أيقتله فتقتلونه؟ أم كيف يفعل؟ فأنـزل الله في شأنه ما ذكر من أمر المتلاعنين، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " قَدْ قَضَى اللهُ فيكَ وفِي امرْأتِكَ، فتلاعنا وأنا شاهد " ثم فارقها عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فكانت السنة بعدها أن يفرّق بين المتلاعنين، وكانت حاملة، فأنكره، فكان ابنها يُدعى إلى أمه، ثم جرت السنة أن ابنها يَرثها، وترث ما فرض الله لها.حدثني محمد بن سعد، قال: ثني أبي، قال: ثني عمي، قال: ثني أبي، عن أبيه، عن ابن عباس، قوله: (وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ)... إلى قوله: ( إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ) قال: إذا شهد الرجل خمس شهادات، فقد برئ كل واحد من الآخر، وعِدَّتُها إن كانت حاملا أن تضع حملها، ولا يجْلد واحد منهما، وإن لم تحلف أقيم عليها الحدّ والرجْم.

( والخامسة أن لعنة الله عليه إن كان من الكاذبين ) قرأ نافع ويعقوب " أن " خفيفة وكذلك الثانية " لعنة الله " رفع ، ثم يعقوب قرأ " غضب " برفع ، وقرأ نافع " غضب " بكسر الضاد وفتح الباء على الماضي " الله " رفع . وقرأ الآخرون " أن " بالتشديد فيهما " لعنة " نصب ، " وغضب " بفتح الضاد على الاسم ، " الله " جر . وقرأ حفص عن عاصم " والخامسة " الثانية نصب ، أي : ويشهد الشهادة الخامسة . وقرأ الآخرون بالرفع على الابتداء وخبره في " أن " كالأولى .وسبب نزول هذه الآية ما أخبرنا أبو الحسن السرخسي ، أخبرنا زاهر بن أحمد ، أخبرنا أبو إسحاق إبراهيم بن عبد الصمد الهاشمي ، أخبرنا أبو مصعب ، عن مالك عن ابن شهاب أن سهل بن سعد الساعدي أخبره أن عويمرا العجلاني جاء إلى عاصم بن عدي الأنصاري فقال له : يا عاصم أرأيت لو أن رجلا وجد مع امرأته رجلا أيقتله فتقتلونه ، أم كيف يفعل ؟ سل لي عن ذلك يا عاصم رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قال : فسأل عاصم رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - عن ذلك ، فكره رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - المسائل وعابها حتى كبر على عاصم ما سمع من رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فلما رجع عاصم إلى أهله جاءه عويمر فقال له : يا عاصم ماذا قال لك رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فقال عاصم لعويمر ، لم تأتني بخير ، قد كره رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - المسألة التي سألته عنها ، فقال عويمر ، والله لا أنتهي حتى أسأله عنها ، فجاء عويمر ورسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وسط الناس ، فقال : يا رسول الله أرأيت رجلا وجد مع امرأته رجلا أيقتله فتقتلونه أم كيف يفعل ؟ فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " قد أنزل فيك وفي صاحبتك فاذهب فأت بها " . فقال سهل : فتلاعنا وأنا مع الناس عند رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فلما فرغا من تلاعنهما قال عويمر : كذبت عليها يا رسول الله إن أمسكتها ، فطلقها ثلاثا قبل أن يأمره رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - . قال مالك قال ابن شهاب : فكانت تلك سنة المتلاعنين .وقال محمد بن إسماعيل أخبرنا إسحاق ، أخبرنا محمد بن يوسف ، أخبرنا الأوزاعي ، أخبرنا الزهري بهذا الإسناد بمثل معناه . وزاد : ثم قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " انظروا فإن جاءت به أسحم أدعج العينين عظيم الإليتين ، خدلج الساقين ، فلا أحسب عويمرا إلا قد صدق عليها ، وإن جاءت به أحيمر كأنه [ وجوه ] فلا أحسب عويمرا إلا قد كذب عليها " فجاءت به على النعت الذي نعت رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - من تصديق عويمر فكان بعد ينسب إلى أمه .أخبرنا عبد الواحد المليحي ، أخبرنا محمد بن عبد الله النعيمي ، أخبرنا أحمد بن يوسف ، أخبرنا محمد بن إسماعيل ، أخبرنا محمد بن بشار ، أخبرنا ابن أبي عدي ، عن هشام بن حسان ، أخبرنا عكرمة ، عن ابن عباس ، أن هلال بن أمية قذف امرأته عند رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بشريك بن سحماء ، فقال النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " البينة أو حد في ظهرك " فقال : يا رسول الله إذا رأى أحدنا على امرأته رجلا ينطلق يلتمس البينة ؟ فجعل النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يقول : " البينة وإلا حد في ظهرك " فقال هلال : والذي بعثك بالحق إني لصادق ، ولينزلن الله ما يبرئ ظهري من الحد ، فنزل جبريل وأنزل عليه : ( والذين يرمون أزواجهم ) فقرأ حتى بلغ ( إن كان من الصادقين ) فانصرف النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فأرسل إليهما ، فجاء هلال فشهد ، والنبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يقول : " إن الله يعلم أن أحدكما كاذب ، فهل منكما تائب " ؟ ثم قامت فشهدت فلما كانت عند الخامسة وقفوها وقالوا إنها : موجبة . قال ابن عباس فتلكأت ونكصت حتى ظننا أنها ترجع ، ثم قالت : لا أفضح قومي سائر اليوم ، فمضت . فقال النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " أبصروها فإن جاءت به أكحل العينين ، سابغ الإليتين ، خدلج الساقين ، فهو لشريك بن سحماء " فجاءت به كذلك ، فقال النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " لولا ما مضى من كتاب الله لكان لي ولها شأن " .وروى عكرمة عن ابن عباس : قال لما نزلت : ( والذين يرمون المحصنات ) الآية . قال سعد بن عبادة : لو أتيت لكاع وقد تفخذها رجل لم يكن لي أهيجه حتى آتي بأربعة شهداء ، فوالله ما كنت لآتي بأربعة شهداء حتى يفرغ من حاجته ويذهب ، وإن قلت ما رأيت إن في ظهري لثمانين جلدة ، فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " يا معشر الأنصار ألا تسمعون ما قال سيدكم " ؟ قالوا : لا تلمه ، فإنه رجل غيور ، ما تزوج امرأة قط إلا بكرا ، ولا طلق امرأة له فاجترأ رجل منا أن يتزوجها . فقال سعد : يا رسول الله بأبي أنت وأمي والله إني لأعرف أنها من الله وأنها حق ولكن عجبت من ذلك لما أخبرتك ، فقال النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " فإن الله يأبى إلا ذلك " فقال صدق الله ورسوله . قال : فلم يلبثوا إلا يسيرا حتى جاء ابن عم له يقال له هلال بن أمية من حديقة له ، فرأى رجلا مع امرأته يزني بها ، فأمسك حتى أصبح ، فلما أصبح غدا على رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وهو جالس مع أصحابه ، فقال : يا رسول الله إني جئت أهلي عشاء فوجدت رجلا مع امرأتي ، رأيت بعيني وسمعت بأذني ، فكره رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ما أتاه به ، وثقل عليه حتى عرف ذلك في وجهه ، فقال هلال : والله يا رسول الله إني لأرى الكراهية في وجهك مما أتيتك به ، والله يعلم إني لصادق وما قلت إلا حقا ، وإني لأرجو أن يجعل الله لي فرجا ، فهم رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بضربه . فقال : واجتمعت الأنصار فقالوا ابتلينا بما قال سعد ، يجلد هلال وتبطل شهادته ، وإنهم لكذلك ، ورسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يريد أن يأمر بضربه ، إذ نزل عليه الوحي ، فأمسك أصحابه عن كلامه حين عرفوا أن الوحي قد نزل عليه ، حتى فرغ ، فأنزل الله - عز وجل - : ( والذين يرمون أزواجهم ) إلى آخر الآيات فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " أبشر يا هلال فإن الله قد جعل لك فرجا " فقال : لقد كنت أرجو ذلك من الله ، فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : أرسلوا إليها ، فجاءت ، فلما اجتمعا عند رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قيل لها فكذبت ، فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : إن الله يعلم أن أحدكما كاذب فهل منكما تائب ؟ فقال هلال : يا رسول الله بأبي أنت وأمي قد صدقت وما قلت إلا حقا ، فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - لاعنوا بينهما ، فقيل لهلال : اشهد ، فشهد أربع شهادات بالله إنه لمن الصادقين ، فقال له عند الخامسة : يا هلال اتق الله ، فإن عذاب الدنيا أهون من عذاب الآخرة ، وإن عذاب الله أشد من عذاب الناس ، وإن هذه الخامسة هي الموجبة التي توجب عليك العذاب ، فقال هلال : والله لا يعذبني الله عليها كما لم يجلدني عليها رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ، فشهد الخامسة : أن لعنة الله عليه إن كان من الكاذبين . ثم قال للمرأة : اشهدي ، فشهدت أربع شهادات بالله إنه لمن الكاذبين ، فقال لها عند الخامسة ووقفها : اتقي الله فإن الخامسة موجبة وإن عذاب الله أشد من عذاب الناس ، فتلكأت ساعة وهمت بالاعتراف ثم قالت : والله لا أفضح قومي ، فشهدت الخامسة : أن غضب الله عليها إن كان من الصادقين ، ففرق رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بينهما ، وقضى بأن الولد لها ولا يدعى لأب ولا يرمى ولدها ، ثم قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : إن جاءت به كذا وكذا فهو لزوجها وإن جاءت به كذا وكذا فهو للذي قيل فيه " ، فجاءت به غلاما كأنه جمل أورق ، على الشبه المكروه ، وكان بعد أميرا على مصر ، لا يدري من أبوه .وقال ابن عباس في سائر الروايات ، ومقاتل : لما نزلت : ( والذين يرمون المحصنات ) الآية ، فقرأها رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يوم الجمعة على المنبر فقام عاصم بن عدي الأنصاري فقال : جعلني الله فداك ، إن رأى رجل منا مع امرأته رجلا فأخبر بما رأى جلد ثمانين جلدة ، وسماه المسلمون فاسقا ، ولا تقبل شهادته أبدا ، فكيف لنا بالشهداء ونحن إذا التمسنا الشهداء كان الرجل فرغ من حاجته ومر ؟ وكان لعاصم هذا ابن عم يقال له عويمر ، وله امرأة يقال لها خولة بنت قيس بن محصن ، فأتى عويمر عاصما وقال : لقد رأيت شريك بن السمحاء على بطن امرأتي خولة ، فاسترجع عاصم ، وأتى رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - في الجمعة الأخرى ، فقال : يا رسول الله ما أسرع ما ابتليت بالسؤال الذي سألت في الجمعة الماضية في أهل بيتي ، فأخبره وكان عويمر وخولة وشريك كلهم بني عم عاصم ، فدعا رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بهم جميعا ، وقال لعويمر : " اتق الله في زوجتك وابنة عمك ولا تقذفها بالبهتان " فقال : يا رسول الله أقسم بالله إني رأيت شريكا على بطنها وإني ما قربتها منذ أربعة أشهر ، وإنها حبلى من غيري ، فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - للمرأة : " اتقي الله ولا تخبري إلا بما صنعت " فقالت : يا رسول الله إن عويمرا رجل غيور ، وإنه رآني وشريكا يطيل السمر ونتحدث ، فحملته الغيرة على ما قال ، فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - لشريك : " ما تقول " ؟ فقال : ما تقوله المرأة كذب ، فأنزل الله - عز وجل - : ( والذين يرمون أزواجهم ) الآية ، فأمر رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - حتى نودي الصلاة جامعة ، فصلى العصر ثم قال لعويمر : قم ، فقام فقال : أشهد بالله بأن خولة لزانية وإني لمن الصادقين ، ثم قال في الثانية أشهد أني رأيت شريكا على بطنها ، وإني لمن الصادقين ، ثم قال في الثالثة أشهد بالله إنها حبلى من غيري وإني لمن الصادقين ، ثم قال في الرابعة أشهد بالله إني ما قربتها منذ أربعة أشهر وإني لمن الصادقين ، ثم قال في الخامسة : لعنة الله على عويمر - يعني نفسه - إن كان من الكاذبين فيما قال ، ثم أمره بالقعود ، وقال لخولة : قومي فقامت ، فقالت : أشهد بالله ما أنا بزانية وإن عويمرا لمن الكاذبين ، ثم قالت في الثانية أشهد بالله أنه ما رأى شريكا على بطني وإنه لمن الكاذبين ، ثم قالت في الثالثة أشهد بالله إني حبلى منه وإنه لمن الكاذبين ، ثم قالت في الرابعة أشهد بالله إنه ما رآني قط على فاحشة وإنه لمن الكاذبين ، ثم قالت في الخامسة غضب الله على خولة - تعني نفسها - إن كان من الصادقين . ففرق رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بينهما ، وقال لولا هذه الأيمان لكان لي في أمرهما رأي ، ثم قال : " تحينوا بها الولادة فإن جاءت به [ أصيهب ] [ أثيبج ] يضرب إلى السواد فهو لشريك ، وإن جاءت به أورق جعدا جماليا خدلج الساقين فهو لغير الذي رميت به " . قال ابن عباس فجاءت بأشبه خلق الله بشريك .والكلام في حكم الآية : أن الرجل إذا قذف امرأته فموجبه موجب قذف الأجنبي في وجوب الحد عليه إن كانت محصنة ، أو التعزير إن لم تكن محصنة ، غير أن المخرج منهما مختلف; فإذا قذف أجنبيا يقام الحد عليه ، إلا أن يقيم أربعة من الشهود على زناه ، أو يقر به المقذوف فيسقط عنه حد القذف ، وفي الزوجة إذا وجد أحد هذين أو لاعن يسقط عنه الحد ، فاللعان في قذف الزوجة بمنزلة البينة ، لأن الرجل إذا رأى مع امرأته رجلا ربما لا يمكنه إقامة البينة عليه ولا يمكنه الصبر على العار ، فجعل الله اللعان حجة له على صدقه ، فقال تعالى : " فشهادة أحدهم أربع شهادات بالله إنه لمن الصادقين " ، وإذا أقام الزوج البينة على زناها أو اعترفت بالزنا سقط عنه الحد واللعان ، إلا أن يكون هناك ولد يريد نفيه فله أن يلاعن لنفيه .وإذا أراد الإمام أن يلاعن بينهما يبدأ فيقيم الرجل ويلقنه كلمات اللعان ، فيقول : قل أشهد بالله إني لمن الصادقين فيما رميت به فلانة بالزنا ، وإن كان قد رماها برجل بعينه سماه بعينه باللعان ، وإن رماها بجماعة سماهم ، ويقول الزوج كما يلقنه الإمام ، وإن كان ولد أو حمل يريد نفيه يقول : وإن هذا الولد أو الحمل لمن الزنا ما هو مني ، ويقول في الخامسة : علي لعنة الله إن كنت من الكاذبين فيما رميت به فلانة ، وإذا أتى بكلمة منها من غير تلقين الحاكم لا تكون محسوبة ، فإذا فرغ الرجل من اللعان وقعت الفرقة بينه وبين زوجته وحرمت عليه على التأبيد ، وانتفى عنه النسب وسقط عنه حد القذف ، ووجب على المرأة حد الزنا ، إن كانت محصنة ترجم ، وإن كانت غير محصنة تجلد وتغرب ، فهذه خمسة أحكام تتعلق كلها بلعان الزوج .

وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ (7) وأما قوله : { والخامسة } أي فالشهادة الخامسة ، أي المكملة عدد خمس للأربع التي قبلها . وأنث اسم العدد لأنه صفة لمحذوف دل عليه قوله { فشهادة أحدهم } والتقدير : والشهادة الخامسة . وليس لها مقابل في عدد شهود الزنى . فلعل حكمة زيادة هذه اليمين مع الأيمان الأربع القائمة مقام الشهود الأربعة أنها لتقوية الأيمان الأربع باستذكار ما يترتب على أيمانه إن كانت غموساً من الحرمان من رحمة الله تعالى .

{ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ْ} أي: يزيد في الخامسة مع الشهادة المذكورة، مؤكدا تلك الشهادات، بأن يدعو على نفسه، باللعنة إن كان كاذبا، فإذا تم لعانه، سقط عنه حد القذف، ظاهر الآيات، ولو سمى الرجل الذي رماها به، فإنه يسقط حقه تبعا لها. وهل يقام عليها الحد، بمجرد لعان الرجل ونكولها أم تحبس؟ فيه قولان للعلماء، الذي يدل عليه الدليل، أنه يقام عليها الحد، بدليل قوله: { وَيَدْرَأُ عَنْهَا الْعَذَابَ أَنْ تَشْهَدَ ْ} إلى آخره، فلولا أن العذاب وهو الحد قد وجب بلعانه، لم يكن لعانها دارئا له.

وكيفية اللعان أن يقول الحاكم للملاعن : قل أشهد بالله لرأيتها تزني ورأيت فرج الزاني في فرجها كالمرود في المكحلة وما وطئتها بعد رؤيتي .وإن شئت قلت : لقد زنت وما وطئتها بعد زناها .يردد ما شاء من هذين اللفظين أربع مرات , فإن نكل عن هذه الأيمان أو عن شيء منها حد .وإذا نفى حملا قال : أشهد بالله لقد استبرأتها وما وطئتها بعد , وما هذا الحمل مني , ويشير إليه ; فيحلف بذلك أربع مرات ويقول في كل يمين منها : وإني لمن الصادقين في قولي هذا عليها .ثم يقول في الخامسة : علي لعنة الله إن كنت من الكاذبين , وإن شاء قال : إن كنت كاذبا فيما ذكرت عنها .فإذا قال ذلك سقط عنه الحد وانتفى عنه الولد .وقال الشافعي : يقول الملاعن أشهد بالله إني لمن الصادقين فيما رميت به زوجي فلانة بنت فلان , ويشير إليها إن كانت حاضرة , يقول ذلك أربع مرات , ثم يوعظه الإمام ويذكره الله تعالى ويقول : إني أخاف إن لم تكن صدقت أن تبوء بلعنة الله ; فإن رآه يريد أن يمضي على ذلك أمر من يضع يده على فيه , ويقول : إن قولك وعلي لعنة الله إن كنت من الكاذبين موجبا ; فإن أبى تركه يقول ذلك : لعنة الله علي إن كنت من الكاذبين فيما رميت به فلانة من الزنى .احتج بما رواه أبو داود عن ابن عباس أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أمر رجلا حيث أمر المتلاعنين أن يضع يده على فيه عند الخامسة يقول : إنها موجبة .

One of the issues, which is given special emphasis, is that of a man who, without having any witness to prove his case, accuses his wife of going astray; there is only his word for it. In such a case, the matter shall be decided by the taking of oaths, a legal procedure termed la‘an under the Islamic law. If a man takes an oath in the prescribed manner, and the woman does not protest— thus accepting the man’s contention, the aforesaid punishment shall be imposed on the woman. But, if the woman too states under oath that she is innocent, then no punishment shall be imposed on her. However, separation of the husband and wife shall be enforced.

Commentary The fourth injunction is of Li'an (لِعَان : curse) among the adjuncts of fornication The meaning of لِعَان and is to curse and praying for Allah's wrath on each other. Certain specific types of oaths between husband and wife with special connotation are called Li` an (لِعَان) in Islamic law. When a husband accuses his wife of adultery or refuses to own his child as being legitimate, and his wife refutes his allegation to be false, and claims for the punishment of false accusation (قَذَف) of eighty stripes to be awarded to him, then the husband will be asked to produce four witnesses. If the husband produces four witnesses, then the wife will be awarded the punishment of adultery, and if he could not produce four witnesses, then they will be subjected to li'an (لِعَان), that is first the husband will be asked to testify four times with the wordings given in the Qur'an to the effect that he is honest, and the fifth time will say that if he was lying, then Allah's curse be on him. If the husband hesitates from saying these words, then he should be arrested, and asked either to swear by saying these words five times or accept himself to be a liar. Until he accedes to one of the two alternatives, he should not be released. If he accepts himself to be a liar, then he should be awarded the punishment of false allegation of adultery (حد القذف), but, in case he swears by repeating the required words five times, then the wife be asked to swear five times by uttering the words given in the Qur'an for this purpose. If she refuses to swear, then she should be put under arrest until such time that either she swears five times or accepts her guilt of adultery, in which case she will be awarded the punishment for adultery. In case she agrees to swear and utters the required words five times, then the process of li` an (لِعَان) has been completed. This way they both have escaped the punishment in this world, but in the Hereafter, the one who has lied will suffer the punishment, as Allah knows best who is the liar. However, in this world also, after the process of li'an (لِعَان) this couple will be forbidden to each other for ever-The husband should free the woman by divorcing her. If the husband does not divorce her, then the judge or the ruler can have them separated by his decree, which will have the same force as divorce. Moreover, they also cannot get married again for ever. Details of the process of li'an (لِعَان) are given in the books of fiqh, where they can be seen. The law of li'an (لِعَان) has been placed in the Islamic jurisprudence to take care of the psychology and emotions of the husband, because in the preceding verses it has been ruled that for putting the blame of adultery on anyone it is essential to produce four eyewitnesses, and if one fails to do so, then he himself will be liable to punishment of false allegation of adultery. For a common man it is possible to keep quiet and not to accuse someone of adultery if he cannot produce four eye-witnesses, in order to save himself from the punishment of false accusation of adultery, but for the husband it is different and a very grave matter, when he has seen the adultery of his wife with his own eyes. For if he accuses his wife without the support of four eye-witnesses he will be liable to punishment of eighty stripes, and if he keeps quiet, it will be a lifelong agony for him to live with the knowledge that his wife has been unfaithful to him. Therefore, the husband's case has been separated from the general law and a separate provision has been prescribed, which is exclusive to the case between husband and wife. For others the directive is the same a: enjoined in the preceding verses. The books of Hadith have narrated two incidents under this subject. The commentators have different views as to which of the two incidents was the cause of revelation of these verses. Qurtubi has taken both the incidents as the cause of revelation of verses so as the revelation was repeated twice. Hafiz Ibn Hajr, the annotator of Bukhari, and Nawawi, the annotator of Muslim, have treated both incidents as the cause of revelation of the verses. Their reasoning is more appealing, which will soon appear. One incident is that of Hilal bin Umayyah and his wife, which is narrated in Bukhari on the authority of Ibn ` Abbas ؓ . The initial part of this incident, also on the authority of Ibn ` Abbas ؓ ، has appeared in the Musnad of Alimad like this: Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ has said that when the verses of Qur'an on punishment of false accusation of adultery were revealed namely, وَالَّذِينَ يَرْ‌مُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِأَرْ‌بَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ فَاجْلِدُوهُمْ ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً And those who accuse the chaste women (of fornication), but they do not produce four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes - 24:4. in which it is made obligatory on the person accusing a woman of adultery to produce four eyewitnesses, one of them he being himself, and if he fails to do so, then he should be charged with the false accusation and awarded eighty stripes instead, and should also be debarred for life from giving any evidence. After hearing these verses a leader of Madinah, Sayyidna Sa'd Ibn ` Ubadah ؓ enquired from the Holy Prophet ﷺ whether these verses were revealed like that only. The Holy Prophet ﷺ (was very surprised to hear this from Sa'd Ibn Ubadah), asked the Ansar whether they were listening to what their leader had said. The group of Ansar pleaded to the Holy Prophet ﷺ not to reproach him, as he had made this enquiry only because of extreme sense of honour. Then Sa'd Ibn ` Ubadah ؓ spoke himself and said "My parents be sacrificed on your honour! I know fully well that these verses are nothing but truth, and have been revealed from Allah Ta’ ala; but what I am surprised of is that if I see a shameless wife in a situation that a strange man is lying over her, then would it not be right for me to scold him and remove him from there. Instead, will it be incumbent on me to get four men and show them this situation to make them eye-witnesses, and by the time I could find four men, he runs away after performing his work?" (Sayyidna Sa` d's wordings are recorded with slight differences by various narrators, but the gist of all is the same. - Qurtubi) Only a short time had lapsed after revelation of the verses of punishment against false accusation of adultery and the remarks made by Sa'd Ibn ` Ubadah, that the incident of Hilal Ibn Umayyah ؓ took place. It so happened that Sayyidna Hilal ؓ returned from his lands late in the night, when he saw a man with his wife with his own eyes, and listened to their conversation. But he did not do anything and waited until the dawn, when he went to the Holy Prophet ﷺ and narrated the story, the Holy Prophet ﷺ was very unhappy to hear about this incident and felt very bad. In the meantime the people of Ansar were gathered and started discussing among themselves that the same thing had happened as was hinted by their chief, and that Hilal Ibn Umayyah ؓ would be punished with eighty stripes in accordance with the Islamic law, and be debarred for life for giving any evidence. Nevertheless, Hilal Ibn Umayyah ؓ said 'By Allah I am very hopeful that Allah Ta’ ala will take me out of this predicament'. Sahih of Bukhari has also quoted that in fact the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، after hearing the incident of Sayyidna Hilal ؓ had asked him, according to Islamic law, to produce four eye-witnesses or be prepared for the punishment of eighty stripes on the back. Sayyidna Hilal Ibn Umayyah ؓ swore an oath by God before the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، and pleaded that he was honest, and that Allah will surely send down a command which will save his back from flogging. While this conversation was still on, Jibra'il (علیہ السلام) descended with the verses containing the law of Wan, that is: وَالَّذِينَ يَرْ‌مُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ And those who accuse their wives (of adultery). - 24:6. Abu Ya` la has quoted the same version on the authority of Sayyidna Anas رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ ، which also says that when the verses of li` an were revealed, the Holy Prophet ﷺ gave the good tiding to Hilal Ibn Umayyah ؓ that Allah Ta’ ala has sent down the solution to his predicament. Hilal replied that he was hoping the same from Allah Ta’ ala. Then the Holy Prophet ﷺ called Sayyidna Hilal Ibn Umayyah's wife also, and when they were both together, he inquired from the wife about the incident. She said that her husband was making a false accusation against her. The Holy Prophet ﷺ said that Allah knows one of you is a liar, so would you not dread (Allah's torment) and come out with the truth and repent. Then Sayyidna Hilal Ibn Umayyah ؓ said 'My parents be sacrificed on you! I have said nothing but truth and whatever I have said is true'. After that the Holy Prophet ﷺ directed that the process of li'an be conducted on both husband and wife according to the revealed verses of the Qur'an. First Sayyidna Hilal ؓ was asked to testify four times with the wordings of Qur'an, which are, 'Believing Allah to be present everywhere and seeing everything, I testify that I am honest in my allegation', Sayyidna Hilal testified four times with the Qur'anic wordings. When it came to testify the fifth time, of which the Qur'anic wordings are, 'Allah's curse be on me, if I were lying'. At that time the Holy Prophet ﷺ said to Sayyidna Hilal Ibn Umayyah ؓ ، as a warning, that he must be careful and fear Allah, as worldly punishment is lighter than the torment of the Hereafter. The torment of Allah is much more severe than the punishment of people, and that the fifth testimony is the final one, on which the ruling would depend. But Hilal Ibn Umayyah insisted that he could say under oath that Allah Ta’ ala would not punish him for his testimony in the Hereafter (as he was sure that this was a true testimony). Then he uttered the wordings of the fifth testimony. After that the Holy Prophet ﷺ obtained four oaths, in the similar manner, from his wife. She too swore with Qur'anic wordings that her husband was lying. When it came to testify the fifth time, the Holy Prophet ﷺ asked her to wait, and warned her that it was the fifth and final testimony, and as such she should be fearful of Allah, as His torment is much more severe than the punishment by the people, that is the Islamic punishment of adultery. On hearing this, she hesitated to swear and waited in that condition for a while. Then said ultimately 'By Allah I will not disgrace my people', and testified the fifth time, saying that if her husband was true then Allah's wrath be on her. This way when the process of li'an was completed, the Holy Prophet ﷺ separated the husband and wife, that is broke down their marriage, and ruled that the child to be born of this conception will take the mother's name and will not be attributed to the father, but the child should not be disparaged. (Tafsir Mazhari quoted from Musnad Ahmad, authority Ibn ` Abbas). The second incident The second incident is also quoted in the Sahih of Bukhari and Muslim, and the details of the incident are narrated by Baghawi on the authority of Ibn ` Abbas ؓ . He has said that the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، while standing on minbar, related the verses' in which it is enjoined to punish the man making false accusation of adultery (حَدِّ القذف ), that is وَالَّذِينَ يَرْ‌مُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ (24:4). At that time Sayyidna ` Asim Ibn ` Adiyy al-Ansa ؓ was also present in the crowd. He got up and pleaded ` O Messenger of Allah, my life be sacrificed on your honour! If any one of us discovers his wife lying in bed with another man and narrates this situation, then he will be punished with eighty stripes, and would be debarred from giving evidence for life. Moreover, the Muslims would call him liar. In such a situation how can we get the eyewitnesses immediately? And if we do, and go in search of eyewitnesses, he would run away after doing his work, by the time we could bring the witnesses. It was the same inquiry made by 'Asim Ibn ` Adiyy ؓ ، which was made by Sayyidna Sa'd Ibn 'Ubadah in the first incident. This inquiry was made on a Friday. After that it so happened that ` Asim Ibn Adiyy's cousin, Uwaimir, who had married Khaula ؓ another cousin of Adiyy's, saw his wife involved with yet another cousin, Sharik Ibn Sahma'. Uwaimir ؓ related this incident to his cousin ` Asim Ibn ` Adiyy ؓ ، who recited إِنَّا لِلَّـهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَ‌اجِعُونَ and went to see the Holy Prophet ﷺ the next day - again a Friday. ` Adiyy said to the Holy Prophet ﷺ that he had made an inquiry on the previous Friday in which he himself has got involved unfortunately, as the same incident has taken place in his family. Baghawl has narrated the incident in great detail as to how were the husband and wife were called and went through the process of lean (Mazhari) This incident is narrated in the Sahihs on the authority of Sayyidna Sahal Ibn Sa'd Sa'idi ؓ that ` Uwaimir al-` Ajlani ؓ inquired from the Holy Prophet ﷺ that if someone finds his wife in bed with another man then should he kill that man, as a result of which he will be killed by people or what else should he do? The Holy Prophet ﷺ replied that Allah Ta’ ala has revealed an injunction for the case of your wife and yourself. Go and get your wife. Sayyidna Sahal Ibn Sa'd ؓ ، the narrator of the Hadith, narrates that the Holy Prophet ﷺ subjected them to the process of lian in the mosque (This process has been explained above). When the process of li` an was completed after both husband and wife had sworn five times, ` Uwaimir said ` If I still keep her as my wife this will mean as if I had made a false accusation against her. Therefore, I am announcing three divorces to her'. (Mazhari on authority of Sahihs) In both these incidents it is reported that the verses of lian were revealed for that particular incident. Hafiz Ibn Hajar and Shaikh ul Islam Nawawi (رح) have noted the alikeness in the two by explaining that it looks the first incident was that of Hilal Ibn Umayyah ؓ ، and the verses of li'an were revealed in that connection, and immediately after that Uwaimir ؓ was also confronted with a similar incident, which he presented before the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، perhaps not knowing Hilal Ibn Umayyah's incident, which had occurred earlier. Then the Holy Prophet ﷺ told him the judgment in his case. This appears plausible because, in the case of Hilal Ibn Umayyah ؓ the wordings are فنزل جبریٔل (Then Jibra'il (علیہ السلام) descended with these verses) , while in the case of ` Uwaimir ؓ the wordings are قد انزل اللہ فیک (Allah has revealed about you), the meaning of which could be that Allah Ta’ ala has enjoined His command in a case similar to yours. وَاللہُ سبحانَہُ و تعالیٰ اَعلَ (Mazhari) Ruling When li'an has taken place between husband and wife before the judge then that woman becomes forbidden for good for that man, just like foster relatives are forbidden for marriage among themselves forever. The Holy Prophet ﷺ has said in a Hadith المتلاعنان لا یجتمعان ابداً (The spouses who have gone through li` an can never join each other). Unlawfulness establishes immediately after the li` an. As for the woman's second marriage with another man, she is allowed after the expiry of her ` iddah period of three months, when she is divorced by her first husband or if he had just said that he had left her. This is the ruling given by Imam Abu Hanifah (رح) But if the husband does not carry out any of the two alternatives, then the ruler or the judge would order the separation, which would have the same effect as the divorce, and after that she would complete three periods of menses, and then she would be free to marry another man. (Mazhari etc.) Ruling When the li'an is completed, after that the child that would born from that conception would not have the name of her husband, but would be called after the name of the mother. The Holy Prophet ﷺ gave this ruling in both the cases of Hilal Ibn Umayyah and ` Uwaimir ` Aljani ؓ اجمعین . Ruling Although the torment of Hereafter would increase on the one who is liar, after the li'an, but the punishment of the world be annulled. Similarly, it is not permissible to call the woman an adulterer nor is it permissible to call her child illegitimate. This was also ruled by the Holy Prophet ﷺ in the case of Hilal Ibn Umayyah ؓ . وقضٰی بان لا تُرمٰی ولا ولدھا .

(And yet a fifth, invoking the curse of Allah on him) and on the fifth the man should invoke Allah's curse on himself (if he is of those who lie) about his wife having committed adultery.