'Uwaimir came to ʿAsim bin ʿAdi who was the chief of Bani Ajlan and said, "What do you say about a man who has found another man with his wife? Should he kill him whereupon you would kill him (i.e. the husband), or what should he do? Please ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ about this matter on my behalf." ʿAsim then went to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! (And asked him that question) but Messenger of Allah ﷺ disliked the question," When 'Uwaimir asked ʿAsim (about the Prophet's answer) ʿAsim replied that Messenger of Allah ﷺ disliked such questions and considered it shameful. "Uwaimir then said, "By Allah, I will not give up asking unless I ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it." Uwaimir came (to the Prophet ) and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! A man has found another man with his wife! Should he kill him whereupon you would kill him (the husband, in Qisas) or what should he do?" Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Allah has revealed regarding you and your wife's case in the Qur'an "So Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered them to perform the measures of Mula'ana according to what Allah had mentioned in His Book. So 'Uwaimir did Mula'ana with her and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! If I kept her I would oppress her." So 'Uwaimir divorced her and so divorce became a tradition after them for those who happened to be involved in a case of Mula'ana. Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said, "Look! If she (Uwaimir's wife) delivers a black child with deep black large eyes, big hips and fat legs, then I will be of the opinion that 'Uwaimir has spoken the truth; but if she delivers a red child looking like a Wahra then we will consider that 'Uwaimir has told a lie against her." Later on she delivered a child carrying the qualities which Messenger of Allah ﷺ had mentioned as a proof for 'Uwaimir's claim; therefore the child was ascribed to its mother henceforth.  

كَيْفَ تَقُولُونَ فِي رَجُلٍ وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ سَلْ لِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَأَتَى عَاصِمٌ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَكَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَسَائِلَ فَسَأَلَهُ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَرِهَ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا قَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَنْتَهِي حَتَّى أَسْأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَجَاءَ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ رَجُلٌ وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ الْقُرْآنَ فِيكَ وَفِي صَاحِبَتِكَ فَأَمَرَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالْمُلاَعَنَةِ بِمَا سَمَّى اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ فَلاَعَنَهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنْ حَبَسْتُهَا فَقَدْ ظَلَمْتُهَا فَطَلَّقَهَا فَكَانَتْ سُنَّةً لِمَنْ كَانَ بَعْدَهُمَا فِي الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ انْظُرُوا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَسْحَمَ أَدْعَجَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ عَظِيمَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَلاَ أَحْسِبُ عُوَيْمِرًا إِلاَّ قَدْ صَدَقَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أُحَيْمِرَ كَأَنَّهُ وَحَرَةٌ فَلاَ أَحْسِبُ عُوَيْمِرًا إِلاَّ قَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَيْهَا فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى النَّعْتِ الَّذِي نَعَتَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ تَصْدِيقِ عُوَيْمِرٍ فَكَانَ بَعْدُ يُنْسَبُ إِلَى أُمِّهِ  

'Uwaimir Al-ʿAjlani came to ʿAsim bin ʿAdi and said, "If a man found another man with his wife and killed him, would you sentence the husband to death (in Qisas,) i.e., equality in punishment)? O ʿAsim! Please ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ about this matter on my behalf." ʿAsim asked the Prophet ﷺ but the Prophet disliked the question and disapproved of it. ʿAsim returned and informed 'Uwaimir that the Prophet disliked that type of question. 'Uwaimir said, "By Allah, I will go (personally) to the Prophet." 'Uwaimir came to the Prophet ﷺ when Allah had already revealed Qur'anic Verses (in that respect), after ʿAsim had left (the Prophet ﷺ ). So the Prophet ﷺ said to 'Uwaimir, "Allah has revealed Qur'anic Verses regarding you and your wife." The Prophet ﷺ then called for them, and they came and carried out the order of Lian. Then 'Uwaimir said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Now if I kept her with me, I would be accused of telling a lie." So 'Uwaimir divorced her although the Prophet ﷺ did not order him to do so. Later on this practice of divorcing became the tradition of couples involved in a case of Li'an. The Prophet ﷺ said (to the people). "Wait for her! If she delivers a red short (small) child like a Wahra (a short red animal). then I will be of the opinion that he ('Uwaimir) has told a lie but if she delivered a black big-eyed one with big buttocks, then I will be of the opinion that he has told the truth about her." 'Ultimately she gave birth to a child that proved the accusation. (See Hadith No. 269, Vol. 6)  

أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلاً وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً فَيَقْتُلُهُ أَتَقْتُلُونَهُ بِهِ سَلْ لِي يَا عَاصِمُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَأَلَهُ فَكَرِهَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَ فَرَجَعَ عَاصِمٌ فَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَرِهَ الْمَسَائِلَ فَقَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللَّهِ لآتِيَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَجَاءَ وَقَدْ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى الْقُرْآنَ خَلْفَ عَاصِمٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَدْ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فِيكُمْ قُرْآنًا فَدَعَا بِهِمَا فَتَقَدَّمَا فَتَلاَعَنَا ثُمَّ قَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَمْسَكْتُهَا فَفَارَقَهَا وَلَمْ يَأْمُرْهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِفِرَاقِهَا فَجَرَتِ السُّنَّةُ فِي الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ وَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَحْمَرَ قَصِيرًا مِثْلَ وَحَرَةٍ فَلاَ أُرَاهُ إِلاَّ قَدْ كَذَبَ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَسْحَمَ أَعْيَنَ ذَا أَلْيَتَيْنِ فَلاَ أَحْسِبُ إِلاَّ قَدْ صَدَقَ عَلَيْهَا فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى الأَمْرِ الْمَكْرُوهِ  

"Uwaimir, a man from Banu 'Ajlan, came and said: 'O 'Asim, what do you think if a man sees another man with his wife, should he kill him and be killed in retaliation, or what should he do? O 'Asim, ask the Messenger of Allah about that for me.'" So 'Asim asked the Messenger of Allah about that, and the Messenger of Allah disapproved of the question and criticized the asking of too many questions. Then 'Uwaimir came to him and said: "What happened, O 'Asim?" 'Asim said to 'Uwaimir: "What happened?! You have not brought me any good. The Messenger of Allah disapproved of the question I asked." 'Uwaimir said: "By Allah, I will go and ask the Messenger of Allah." So he went to the Messenger of Allah and asked him. The Messenger of Allah said: "Allah the Mighty and Sublime has revealed (something) concerning you and your wife, so bring her here." Sahl said: "I was among the people in the presence of the Messenger of Allah and he brought her and they engaged in the procedure of Li'an. He said: 'O Messenger of Allah, by Allah! If I keep her I would have been telling lies about her.' So he parted from her before the Messenger of Allah told him to separate from her, and that became the way of Li'an."  

جَاءَنِي عُوَيْمِرٌ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي الْعَجْلاَنِ فَقَالَ أَىْ عَاصِمُ أَرَأَيْتُمْ رَجُلاً رَأَى مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَفْعَلُ يَا عَاصِمُ سَلْ لِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَأَلَ عَاصِمٌ عَنْ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَعَابَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَسَائِلَ وَكَرِهَهَا فَجَاءَهُ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ مَا صَنَعْتَ يَا عَاصِمُ فَقَالَ صَنَعْتُ أَنَّكَ لَمْ تَأْتِنِي بِخَيْرٍ كَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا قَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللَّهِ لأَسْأَلَنَّ عَنْ ذَلِكَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَانْطَلَقَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷻ فِيكَ وَفِي صَاحِبَتِكَ فَائْتِ بِهَا قَالَ سَهْلٌ وَأَنَا مَعَ النَّاسِ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجَاءَ بِهَا فَتَلاَعَنَا فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ أَمْسَكْتُهَا لَقَدْ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا فَفَارَقَهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِفِرَاقِهَا فَصَارَتْ سُنَّةَ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ  

"Uwaimir came to 'Asim bin 'Adi and said: 'Ask the Messenger of Ailah ﷺ for me: "Do you think that if a man finds another man with his wife and kills him, he should be killed in retaliation, or what should he do?" 'Asim asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about that, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ disapproved of the question. Then 'Uwaimir met him ('Asim) and asked him about that, saying: 'What did you do?’ He said: I did that and you have not brought me any good. I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he disapproved of this question.’ Uwaimir said: 'By Allah, I will go to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ myself and ask him.' So he went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and found that Qur'an had been revealed concerning them, and the Prophet ﷺ told them to go through the procedure of Li'an. 'Uwaimir said: 'O Messenger of Allah, ﷺ by Allah if I take her back, I would have been telling lies about her.' So he left her before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ told him to do so, and that became the Sunnah for two who engage in the procedure of Li'an. Then the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Wait and see. If she gives birth to a child who is black in color with widely-spaced dark eyes and large buttocks, then I think that he was telling the truth about her, but if she gives birth to a child with a red complexion like a Wahrah,[1] then I think that he was lying.' Then she gave birth to a child with features resembling those of the man concerning whom she was accused."  

سَلْ لِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلاً وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً فَقَتَلَهُ أَيُقْتَلُ بِهِ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ فَسَأَلَ عَاصِمٌ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَعَابَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَسَائِلَ ثُمَّ لَقِيَهُ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ مَا صَنَعْتَ فَقَالَ صَنَعْتُ أَنَّكَ لَمْ تَأْتِنِي بِخَيْرٍ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَعَابَ الْمَسَائِلَ فَقَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللَّهِ لآتِيَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلأَسْأَلَنَّهُ فَأَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَوَجَدَهُ قَدْ أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ فِيهِمَا فَلاَعَنَ بَيْنَهُمَا فَقَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللَّهِ لَئِنِ انْطَلَقْتُ بِهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا قَالَ فَفَارَقَهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَارَتْ سُنَّةً فِي الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَسْحَمَ أَدْعَجَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ عَظِيمَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ فَلاَ أُرَاهُ إِلاَّ قَدْ صَدَقَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أُحَيْمِرَ كَأَنَّهُ وَحَرَةٌ فَلاَ أُرَاهُ إِلاَّ كَاذِبًا قَالَ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى النَّعْتِ الْمَكْرُوهِ  

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab that Sahl ibn Sad as-Saidi told him that Uwaymir al-Ajlani came to Asim ibn Adi al- Ansari and said to him, "Asim! What do you think a man who finds another man with his wife should do? Should he kill him and then be killed himself, or what should .he do? Asim! ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about that for me." Asim asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was revolted by the questions and reproved them until what he heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. was intolerable for Asim. When Asim returned to his people, Uwaymir came to him and said, " Asim! what did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say to you?" Asim said to Uwaymir, "You didn't bring me any good. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was revolted by the question which I asked him." Uwaymir said, "By Allah! I will not stop until I ask him about it!" Uwaymir stood up and went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the middle of the people and said, "Messenger of Allah! What do you think a man who finds another man with his wife should do? Should he kill him and then be killed himself, or what should he do?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Something has been sent down about you and your wife, so go and bring her." Sahl continued, "They mutually cursed one another in the presence of the Messenge ﷺ and I was present with the people. When they finished cursing each other, Uwaymir said, 'I shall have lied about her, Messenger of Allah, if I keep her,' and pronounced the divorce three times before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered him to do it." Malik said that Ibn Shihab said, "That was how the sunna of a couple mutually cursing each other was established (lian)."  

أَنَّ عُوَيْمِرًا الْعَجْلاَنِيَّ جَاءَ إِلَى عَاصِمِ بْنِ عَدِيٍّ الأَنْصَارِيِّ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا عَاصِمُ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلاً وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَفْعَلُ سَلْ لِي يَا عَاصِمُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَأَلَ عَاصِمٌ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَكَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا حَتَّى كَبُرَ عَلَى عَاصِمٍ مَا سَمِعَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ عَاصِمٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ جَاءَهُ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ يَا عَاصِمُ مَاذَا قَالَ لَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ عَاصِمٌ لِعُوَيْمِرٍ لَمْ تَأْتِنِي بِخَيْرٍ قَدْ كَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَسْأَلَةَ الَّتِي سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْهَا فَقَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَنْتَهِي حَتَّى أَسْأَلَهُ عَنْهَا فَأَقْبَلَ عُوَيْمِرٌ حَتَّى أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَسْطَ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلاً وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَفْعَلُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ أُنْزِلَ فِيكَ وَفِي صَاحِبَتِكَ فَاذْهَبْ فَأْتِ بِهَا قَالَ سَهْلٌ فَتَلاَعَنَا وَأَنَا مَعَ النَّاسِ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَا مِنْ تَلاَعُنِهِمَا قَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَمْسَكْتُهَا فَطَلَّقَهَا ثَلاَثًا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَقَالَ مَالِكٌ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَكَانَتْ تِلْكَ بَعْدُ سُنَّةَ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ  

Sahl bin Sa’ad Al Sa’idi said that ‘Uwaimir bin Ashqar Al Ajilani came to ‘Asim bin Adl and said to him “Asim tell me about a man who finds a man along with his wife. Should he kill him and then be killed by you, or how should he act? Ask the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ ‘Asim, for me about it. ‘Asim then asked the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ about it. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ disliked the question and denounced it. What ‘Asim heard from the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ fell heavy on him. When ‘Asim returned to his family ‘Uwaimr came to him and asked ‘Asim “What did the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ say to you”? Asim replied “You did not do good to me”. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ disliked the question that I asked him. Thereupon ‘Uwaimir said “I swear by Allaah, I shall not leave until I ask him about it. So, ‘Uwaimir came to the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ while he was sitting in the midst of the people.” He said “Apostle of Allaah ﷺ tell me about a man who finds a man along with his wife. Should he kill him and then be killed by you, or how should he act?” The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ said “A revelation has been sent down about you and your wife so go away and bring her. Sahl said “So we cursed one another while I was along with the people who were with the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ. Then when they finished, ‘Umamir said “I shall have lied against her, Apostle of Allaah ﷺ if I keep her. He pronounced her divorce three times before the Apostle of Allaah ﷺcommanded him (to do so). Ibn Shihab said “Then this became the method of invoking curses.” (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2245)  

يَا عَاصِمُ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجلاً وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا أَيَقْتُلُهُ؟ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَفْعَلُ؟ سَلْ لِي عَنْ ذَلِكَ يَا عَاصِمُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَسَأَلَ عَاصِمٌ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَكَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا حَتَّى كَبُرَ عَلَى عَاصِمٍ مِمَّا يَسْمَعُ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ مَا سَمِعَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ عَاصِمٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ جَاءَهُ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ يَا عَاصِمُ مَاذَا قَالَ لكَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟ فَقَالَ عَاصِمٌ لِعُوَيْمِرٍ لَمْ تَأْتِنِي بِخَيْرٍ قَدْ كَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الْمَسْأَلَةَ الَّتِي سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْهَا فَقَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللهِ لَاأَنْتَهِي حَتَّى أَسْأَلَهُ عَنْهَا فَأَقْبَلَ عُوَيْمِرٌ حَتَّى أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَسْطَ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلًا وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَفْعَلُ؟ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قَدْ أَنْزَلَ اللهُ فِيكَ وَفِي صَاحِبَتِكَ فَاذْهَبْ فَأْتِ بِهَا قَالَ سَهْلُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ فَتَلَاعَنَا وَأَنَا مَعَ النَّاسِ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَا قَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنْ أَمْسَكْتُهَا فَطَلَّقَهَا ثَلَاثًا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ  

Sahl bin Sa’ad Al Sa’idi said that ‘Uwaimir bin Ashqar Al Ajilani came to ‘Asim bin Adl and said to him “Asim tell me about a man who finds a man along with his wife. Should he kill him and then be killed by you, or how should he act? Ask the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ ‘Asim, for me about it. ‘Asim then asked the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ about it. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ disliked the question and denounced it. What ‘Asim heard from the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ fell heavy on him. When ‘Asim returned to his family ‘Uwaimr came to him and asked ‘Asim “What did the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ say to you”? Asim replied “You did not do good to me”. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ disliked the question that I asked him. Thereupon ‘Uwaimir said “I swear by Allaah, I shall not leave until I ask him about it. So, ‘Uwaimir came to the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ while he was sitting in the midst of the people.” He said “Apostle of Allaah ﷺ tell me about a man who finds a man along with his wife. Should he kill him and then be killed by you, or how should he act?” The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ said “A revelation has been sent down about you and your wife so go away and bring her. Sahl said “So we cursed one another while I was along with the people who were with the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ. Then when they finished, ‘Umamir said “I shall have lied against her, Apostle of Allaah ﷺ if I keep her. He pronounced her divorce three times before the Apostle of Allaah ﷺcommanded him (to do so). Ibn Shihab said “Then this became the method of invoking curses.” (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2245)   

أَنَّ رَجُلًا وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَفْعَلُ؟ سَلْ لِي يَا عَاصِمُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَسَأَلَ عَاصِمُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَكَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ تِلْكَ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا حَتَّى كَبُرَ عَلَى عَاصِمٍ مَا سَمِعَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ عَاصِمٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ جَاءَهُ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ يَا عَاصِمُ مَاذَا قَالَ لَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ؟ فَقَالَ عَاصِمٌ لِعُوَيْمِرٍ لَمْ تَأْتِنِي بِخَيْرٍ قَدْ كَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَسْأَلَةَ الَّتِي سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْهَا فَقَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللَّهِ لَا أَنْتَهِي حَتَّى أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْهَا فَجَاءَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَسَطَ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «قَدْ أُنْزِلَ فِيكَ وَفِي صَاحِبَتِكَ فَاذْهَبْ فَأْتِ بِهَا» فَقَالَ سَهْلٌ فَتَلَاعَنَا وَأَنَا مَعَ النَّاسِ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَا مِنْ تَلَاعُنِهِمَا قَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَمْسَكْتُهَا فَطَلَّقَهَا ثَلَاثًا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْمُرُهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

'Uwaimir came to ʿAsim bin ʿAdi who was the chief of Bani Ajlan and said, "What do you say about a man who has found another man with his wife? Should he kill him whereupon you would kill him (i.e. the husband), or what should he do? Please ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ about this matter on my behalf." ʿAsim then went to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! (And asked him that question) but Messenger of Allah ﷺ disliked the question," When 'Uwaimir asked ʿAsim (about the Prophet's answer) ʿAsim replied that Messenger of Allah ﷺ disliked such questions and considered it shameful. "Uwaimir then said, "By Allah, I will not give up asking unless I ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it." Uwaimir came (to the Prophet ) and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! A man has found another man with his wife! Should he kill him whereupon you would kill him (the husband, in Qisas) or what should he do?" Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Allah has revealed regarding you and your wife's case in the Qur'an "So Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered them to perform the measures of Mula'ana according to what Allah had mentioned in His Book. So 'Uwaimir did Mula'ana with her and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! If I kept her I would oppress her." So 'Uwaimir divorced her and so divorce became a tradition after them for those who happened to be involved in a case of Mula'ana. Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said, "Look! If she (Uwaimir's wife) delivers a black child with deep black large eyes, big hips and fat legs, then I will be of the opinion that 'Uwaimir has spoken the truth; but if she delivers a red child looking like a Wahra then we will consider that 'Uwaimir has told a lie against her." Later on she delivered a child carrying the qualities which Messenger of Allah ﷺ had mentioned as a proof for 'Uwaimir's claim; therefore the child was ascribed to its mother henceforth. (Using translation from Bukhārī 4745)  

كَيْفَ تَقُولُونَ فِي رَجُلٍ وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ؟ فَقَالَ سَلْ لِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَأَتَى عَاصِمٌ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ رَجُلٌ وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ؟ فَكَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا فَأَتَى عُوَيْمِرًا فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَدْ كَرِهَ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا فَقَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللَّهِ لَا أَنْتَهِي حَتَّى أَسْأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَأَتَى عُوَيْمِرٌ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «قَدْ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ وَعَلَا فِيكَ وَفِي صَاحِبَتِكَ» فَأَمَرَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَتَلَاعَنَا بِمَا سَمَّى اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ قَالَ فَلَاعَنَهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنْ حَبَسْتُهَا فَقَدْ ظَلَمْتُهَا قَالَ فَطَلَّقَهَا وَكَانَتْ سُنَّةٌ لِمَنْ بَعْدَهُمَا مِنَ الْمُتَلَاعِنِينَ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «انْظُرُوا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَسْحَمَ أَدْعَجَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ عَظِيمَ الْأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَلَا أَحْسِبُ عُوَيْمِرًا إِلَّا قَدْ صَدَقَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أُحَيْمِرَ كَأَنَّهُ وَحْرَةٌ فَلَا أَحْسِبُ عُوَيْمِرًا إِلَّا وَقَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَيْهَا» قَالَ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى النَّعْتِ الَّذِي نَعَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ تَصْدِيقِ عُوَيْمِرٍ قَالَ فَكَانَ يُنْسَبُ بَعْدُ إِلَى أُمِّهِ  

[Machine] A man from the Ansar came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah, what if a man finds his wife with another man and kills him, would you kill him or how would he act?" So Allah revealed in the Quran the ruling concerning this matter. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him, "Allah has decreed regarding you and your wife." The man said, "We cursed each other in the mosque and I witnessed it. When we finished, I lied about it, O Messenger of Allah. If I had held her, I would have divorced her before the Prophet commanded it.” When they finished cursing each other, she left him in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ said, "That is the separation between every cursed couple." The Prophet ﷺ also said, "If she comes with Uhaymir, a short-statured person who appears as a free woman, then I do not see her except that she is telling the truth and he is lying about her. And if she comes with someone who has black eyes with two thick eyelashes, then I do not see him except that he is telling the truth about her." So she came with him against her wishes in accordance with that which is detested.  

أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلًا وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَفْعَلُ؟ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ ﷻ فِي شَأْنِهِ مَا ذُكِرَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْمُتَلَاعِنَيْنِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «قَدْ قَضَى اللهُ فِيكَ وَفِي امْرَأَتِكَ» قَالَ فَتَلَاعَنَا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَأَنَا شَاهِدٌ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَا قَالَ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنْ أَمْسَكْتُهَا فَطَلَّقَهَا ثَلَاثًا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ حِينَ فَرَغَا مِنَ التَّلَاعُنِ فَفَارَقَهَا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «ذَلِكَ التَّفْرِيقُ بَيْنَ كُلِّ مُتَلَاعِنَيْنِ» وَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «إِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أُحَيْمِرَ قَصِيرًا كَأَنَّهُ وَحَرَةٌ فَلَا أُرَاهَا إِلَّا قَدْ صَدَقَتْ وَكَذَبَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَسْوَدَ أَعْيَنَ ذَا أَلْيَتَيْنِ فَلَا أُرَاهُ إِلَّا قَدْ صَدَقَ عَلَيْهَا» فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى الْمَكْرُوهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ  

[Machine] How do you say about a man who finds another man with his wife, should he kill him and you kill him, or what should he do? He said, ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about that. So, As`im went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah, a man finds another man with his wife, should he kill him and you kill him, or what should he do?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ disliked the question and disapproved of it. As`im said, "By Allah, I will not give up until I ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about this." So, As`im went back and said, "O Messenger of Allah, a man finds another man with his wife, should he kill him and you kill him, or what should he do?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The Qur’an has been revealed to you and to your wife." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded them to invoke the curse of Allah on each other according to what Allah had revealed in His Book, so they invoked the curse on each other. Then As`im said, "O Messenger of Allah, if I confine her, I will be wronging her." He said, "Then divorce her, for that will be a Sunnah (example) for those who come after them among the cursed ones." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Look, if she gives birth to a child who resembles `Asim, with thick calves, and gap between his teeth, I do not think that `Umayr is telling the truth, but if she gives birth to a child who resembles `Umayr, as if he was free, I do not think that `Asim is telling the truth." Then she bore a child who resembled the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the features that `Umayr had described, and it was said that he was the son of his mother.  

كَيْفَ تَقُولُ فِي رَجُلٍ وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ؟ وَقَالَ سَلْ لِي رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَأَتَى عَاصِمٌ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ رَجُلٌ وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ؟ قَالَ فَكَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الْمَسَائِلَ فَسَأَلَهُ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ كَرِهَ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا قَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللهِ لَا أَنْتَهِي حَتَّى أَسْأَلَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَجَاءَ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ رَجُلٌ وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «قَدْ أُنْزِلَ الْقُرْآنُ فِيكَ وَفِي صَاحِبَتِكَ» وأمَرَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِالْمُلَاعَنَةِ بِمَا بَيَّنَهَا اللهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ فَتَلَاعَنَا ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنْ حَبَسْتُهَا فَقَدْ ظَلَمْتُهَا قَالَ ثُمَّ طَلَّقَهَا فَكَانَتْ سُنَّةً لِمَنْ جَاءَ بَعْدَهُمَا مِنَ الْمُتَلَاعِنَيْنِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «انْظُرُوا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَسْحَمَ أَدْعَجَ عَظِيمَ الْأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَلَا أَحْسَبُ إِلَّا عُوَيْمِرٌ قَدْ صَدَقَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أُحَيْمِرَ كَأَنَّهُ وَحَرَةٌ فَلَا أَحْسَبُ عُوَيْمِرًا إِلَّا قَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَيْهَا» قَالَ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى النَّعْتِ الَّذِي نَعَتَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْ تَصْدِيقِ عُوَيْمِرٍ وَكَانَ نَسَبُ هَذَا إِلَى أُمِّهِ  

'Uwaimir Al-ʿAjlani came to ʿAsim bin ʿAdi and said, "If a man found another man with his wife and killed him, would you sentence the husband to death (in Qisas,) i.e., equality in punishment)? O ʿAsim! Please ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ about this matter on my behalf." ʿAsim asked the Prophet ﷺ but the Prophet disliked the question and disapproved of it. ʿAsim returned and informed 'Uwaimir that the Prophet disliked that type of question. 'Uwaimir said, "By Allah, I will go (personally) to the Prophet." 'Uwaimir came to the Prophet ﷺ when Allah had already revealed Qur'anic Verses (in that respect), after ʿAsim had left (the Prophet ﷺ ). So the Prophet ﷺ said to 'Uwaimir, "Allah has revealed Qur'anic Verses regarding you and your wife." The Prophet ﷺ then called for them, and they came and carried out the order of Lian. Then 'Uwaimir said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Now if I kept her with me, I would be accused of telling a lie." So 'Uwaimir divorced her although the Prophet ﷺ did not order him to do so. Later on this practice of divorcing became the tradition of couples involved in a case of Li'an. The Prophet ﷺ said (to the people). "Wait for her! If she delivers a red short (small) child like a Wahra (a short red animal). then I will be of the opinion that he ('Uwaimir) has told a lie but if she delivered a black big-eyed one with big buttocks, then I will be of the opinion that he has told the truth about her." 'Ultimately she gave birth to a child that proved the accusation. (See Hadith No. 269, Vol. 6) (Using translation from Bukhārī 7304)  

أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلًا وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا فَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ بِهِ سَلْ يَا عَاصِمُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَجَاءَ عَاصِمٌ فَسَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَكَرِهَ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا فَرَجَعَ فَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَرِهَ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا فَقَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَوَاللهِ لَآتِيَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَجَاءَ وَقَدْ أُنْزِلَ الْقُرْآنُ خَلْفَ عَاصِمٍ فَسَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «قَدْ أُنْزِلَ فِيكُمْ قُرْآنٌ» فَدَعَاهُمَا فَتَقَدَّمَا فَتَلَاعَنَا ثُمَّ قَالَ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنْ أَمْسَكْتُهَا فَفَارَقَهَا وَمَا أَمَرَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِفِرَاقِهَا فَجَرَتْ سُنَّةُ الْمُتلَاعِنَيْنِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «انْظُرُوا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَحْمَرَ قَصِيرًا مِثْلَ الْوَحْرَةِ فَلَا أُرَاهُ إِلَّا قَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَسْحَمَ أَعْيَنَ ذَا أَلْيَتَيْنِ فَلَا أَحْسَبُهُ إِلَّا قَدْ صَدَقَ عَلَيْهَا» فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى الْأَمْرِ الْمَكْرُوهِ  

"Uwaimir came to 'Asim bin 'Adi and said: 'Ask the Messenger of Ailah ﷺ for me: "Do you think that if a man finds another man with his wife and kills him, he should be killed in retaliation, or what should he do?" 'Asim asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about that, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ disapproved of the question. Then 'Uwaimir met him ('Asim) and asked him about that, saying: 'What did you do?’ He said: I did that and you have not brought me any good. I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he disapproved of this question.’ Uwaimir said: 'By Allah, I will go to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ myself and ask him.' So he went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and found that Qur'an had been revealed concerning them, and the Prophet ﷺ told them to go through the procedure of Li'an. 'Uwaimir said: 'O Messenger of Allah, ﷺ by Allah if I take her back, I would have been telling lies about her.' So he left her before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ told him to do so, and that became the Sunnah for two who engage in the procedure of Li'an. Then the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Wait and see. If she gives birth to a child who is black in color with widely-spaced dark eyes and large buttocks, then I think that he was telling the truth about her, but if she gives birth to a child with a red complexion like a Wahrah,[1] then I think that he was lying.' Then she gave birth to a child with features resembling those of the man concerning whom she was accused." (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 2066)   

يَا عَاصِمُ سَلْ لِي رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنْ رَجُلٍ وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتَهِ رَجُلًا فَقَتَلَهُ أَيُقْتَلُ بِهِ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ؟ فَسَأَلَ عَاصِمٌ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عنْ ذَلِكَ فَعَابَ الْمَسَائِلَ وَكَرِهَهُ فَجَاءَ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ يَا عَاصِمُ مَا صَنَعْتَ؟ فَقَالَ مَا صَنَعْتُ؟ إِنَّكَ لَمْ تَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَعَابَ الْمَسَائِلَ فَقَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللهِ لَآتِيَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَلَأَسْأَلَنَّهُ فَأَتَاهُ فَوَجَدَهُ قَدْ أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ فِيهِمَا فَدَعَاهُمَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَلَاعَنَ بَيْنَهُمَا فَقَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ لَئِنِ انْطَلَقْتُ بِهَا لَقَدْ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا فَفَارَقَهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَصَارَتْ سُنَّةَ الْمُتَلَاعِنَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَسْحَمَ أَدْعَجَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ عَظِيمَ الْأَلْيَتَيْنِ فَلَا أُرَاهُ إِلَّا قَدْ صَدَقَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أُحَيْمِرَ كَأَنَّهُ وَحَرَةٌ فَلَا أُرَاهُ إِلَّا كَاذِبًا» فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى النَّعْتِ الْمَكْرُوهِ وَاللَّفْظُ لِحَدِيثِ الْحُمَيْدِيِّ  

[Machine] Uwaymir said to Asim, "I found a man with my wife, shall I kill him and you kill him? Or what should I do?" Ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about this. So Asim asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about this matter and he disliked and disapproved of it. This greatly affected Asim and troubled him. Then Uwaymir came to him and said, "Did you ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as I instructed you?" Asim replied, "You did not bring any good. I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he disliked and disapproved of it to the point that I wished I had left my wealth and not asked him about your affair with your wife." So Uwaymir went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah, a man found a man with his wife, shall he kill him and you kill him? Or what should he do?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Allah has revealed something concerning you and your wife, so hasten with it." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent her to the mosque after Asr prayer, and I was with the people observing. We cursed each other. When they finished, Uwaymir stood in front of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah, I wronged her. If I restrain her, then she is divorced."  

عُوَيْمِرٌ لِعَاصِمٍ رَجُلٌ وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ؟ سَلْ لِي رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عنْ ذَلِكَ فَسَأَلَ عَاصِمٌ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَكَرِهَ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا فَعَظُمَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى عَاصِمٍ وَكَبُرَ فِي نَفْسِهِ فَأَتَاهُ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ سَأَلْتَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ الَّذِي أَمَرْتُكَ بِهِ؟ فَقَالَ لَمْ تَجِئْنِي بِخَيْرٍ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَكَرِهَ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا حَتَّى وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي خَرَجْتُ مِنْ مَالِي وَلَمْ أَسْأَلْهُ شَأْنَكَ بَامْرَأَتِكَ فَأَتَى عُوَيْمِرٌ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ رَجُلٌ وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ؟ فَقَالَ «قَدْ أَنْزَلَ اللهُ فِيكَ وَفِي صَاحِبَتِكَ فَاعْجَلْ بِهَا» فَقَدَّمَهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ وَأَنَا مَعَ النَّاسِ أَنْظُرُ فَتَلَاعَنَا فَلَمَّا فَرَغَا وَقَفَ عُوَيْمِرٌ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ظَلَمْتُهَا إِنْ أَمْسَكْتُهَا فَهِيَ طَالِقٌ الْبَتَّةَ  

Sahl bin Sa’ad Al Sa’idi said that ‘Uwaimir bin Ashqar Al Ajilani came to ‘Asim bin Adl and said to him “Asim tell me about a man who finds a man along with his wife. Should he kill him and then be killed by you, or how should he act? Ask the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ ‘Asim, for me about it. ‘Asim then asked the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ about it. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ disliked the question and denounced it. What ‘Asim heard from the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ fell heavy on him. When ‘Asim returned to his family ‘Uwaimr came to him and asked ‘Asim “What did the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ say to you”? Asim replied “You did not do good to me”. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ disliked the question that I asked him. Thereupon ‘Uwaimir said “I swear by Allaah, I shall not leave until I ask him about it. So, ‘Uwaimir came to the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ while he was sitting in the midst of the people.” He said “Apostle of Allaah ﷺ tell me about a man who finds a man along with his wife. Should he kill him and then be killed by you, or how should he act?” The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ said “A revelation has been sent down about you and your wife so go away and bring her. Sahl said “So we cursed one another while I was along with the people who were with the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ. Then when they finished, ‘Umamir said “I shall have lied against her, Apostle of Allaah ﷺ if I keep her. He pronounced her divorce three times before the Apostle of Allaah ﷺcommanded him (to do so). Ibn Shihab said “Then this became the method of invoking curses.” (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2245)   

يَا عَاصِمُ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلًا وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَفْعَلُ؟ سَلْ لِي رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَكَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا حَتَّى كَبُرَ عَلَى عَاصِمٍ مَا سَمِعَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ عَاصِمٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ جَاءَ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ يَا عَاصِمُ مَاذَا قَالَ لَكَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟ فَقَالَ عَاصِمٌ قَدْ كَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الْمَسْأَلَةَ الَّتِي سَأَلْتَ عَنْهَا فَأَقْبَلَ عُوَيْمِرٌ حَتَّى سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فِي وَسَطِ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلًا وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَفْعَلُ؟ قَالَ «قَدْ نَزَلَ فِيكَ وَفِي صَاحِبَتِكَ فَاذْهَبْ فَائْتِ بِهَا» قَالَ سَهْلٌ فَتَلَاعَنَا وَأَنَا مَعَ النَّاسِ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَا مِنْ تَلَاعُنِهِمَا قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ أَمْسَكْتُهَا قَالَ فَطَلَّقَهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِطَلَاقِهَا وَكَانَ فِرَاقُهُ إِيَّاهَا سُنَّةً بَيْنَ الْمُتَلَاعِنَيْنِ  

[Machine] Have you seen a man who found another man with his wife, and if he killed him, would you kill him? So ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. So Asim asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ disliked the matter and criticized it. So Asim informed 'Uwaymir, who said, "By Allah, I will go to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ." So he came and the Qur'an had been revealed, and he asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The Qur'an has been revealed regarding you two." So they both came forward and cursed each other. Then he said, "I lied about her. If I had held her, I would have divorced her, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not order her separation. It is a Sunnah in the case of cursing each other." And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Look at her. If she comes to you with short red hair, as if she were a wild donkey, then I do not think she is anything but a liar. But if she comes to you with dark eyes and long eyelashes, then I do not think she is anything but truthful." So she came with the undesirable description.  

أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلًا وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا فَإِنْ قَتَلَهُ قَتَلْتُمُوهُ؟ سَلْ لِي رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَسَأَلَ عَاصِمٌ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَكَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا فَأَخْبَرَ عَاصِمٌ عُوَيْمِرًا فَقَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللهِ لَآتِيَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَجَاءَ وَقَدْ نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ فَسَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ «لَقَدْ أُنْزِلَ فِيكُمَا الْقُرْآنُ» فَتَقَدَّمَا فَتَلَاعَنَا ثُمَّ قَالَ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ أَنَا أَمْسَكْتُهَا فَفَارَقَهَا وَمَا أَمَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِفِرَاقِهَا فَسُنَّتْ سُنَّةً فِي الْمُتَلَاعِنَيْنِ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَحْمَرَ قَصِيرًا كَأَنَّهُ وَحَرَةٌ فَلَا أَحْسَبُهُ إِلَّا قَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَسْحَمَ أَعْيَنَ ذَا أَلْيَتَيْنِ فَلَا أَحْسَبُهُ إِلَّا قَدْ صَدَقَ عَلَيْهَا» فَجَاءَتْ عَلَى النَّعْتِ الْمَكْرُوهِ  

"Uwaimir came to 'Asim bin 'Adi and said: 'Ask the Messenger of Ailah ﷺ for me: "Do you think that if a man finds another man with his wife and kills him, he should be killed in retaliation, or what should he do?" 'Asim asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about that, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ disapproved of the question. Then 'Uwaimir met him ('Asim) and asked him about that, saying: 'What did you do?’ He said: I did that and you have not brought me any good. I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he disapproved of this question.’ Uwaimir said: 'By Allah, I will go to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ myself and ask him.' So he went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and found that Qur'an had been revealed concerning them, and the Prophet ﷺ told them to go through the procedure of Li'an. 'Uwaimir said: 'O Messenger of Allah, ﷺ by Allah if I take her back, I would have been telling lies about her.' So he left her before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ told him to do so, and that became the Sunnah for two who engage in the procedure of Li'an. Then the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Wait and see. If she gives birth to a child who is black in color with widely-spaced dark eyes and large buttocks, then I think that he was telling the truth about her, but if she gives birth to a child with a red complexion like a Wahrah,[1] then I think that he was lying.' Then she gave birth to a child with features resembling those of the man concerning whom she was accused." (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 2066)   

يَا عَاصِمُ بْنَ عَدِيٍّ سَلْ لِي رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنْ رَجُلٍ وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا فَقَتَلَهُ أَيُقْتَلُ بِهِ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ؟ فَسَأَلَ عَاصِمٌ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَعَابَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْمَسَائِلَ فَلَقِيَهُ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ مَا صَنَعْتَ؟ قَالَ مَا صَنَعْتُ أَنَّكَ لَمْ تَأْتِنِي بِخَيْرٍ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَعَابَ الْمَسَائِلَ قَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللهِ لَآتِيَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ وَلَأَسْأَلَنَّهُ فَأَتَاهُ فَوَجَدَهُ قَدْ أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ فِيهِمَا فَدَعَاهُمَا فَلَاعَنَ بَيْنَهُمَا فَقَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ لَئِنِ انْطَلَقْتَ بِهَا لَقَدْ كَذَبْتَ عَلَيْهَا فَفَارَقَهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَسْحَمَ أَدْعَجَ عَظِيمَ الْأَلْيَتَيْنِ فَمَا أَرَاهُ إِلَّا قَدْ صَدَقَ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أُحَيْمِرَ كَأَنَّهُ وَحَرَةٌ فَمَا أَرَاهُ إِلَّا كَاذِبًا فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى النَّعْتِ الْمَكْرُوهِ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَصَارَتْ سُنَّةَ الْمُتَلَاعِنَيْنِ  

'Uwaimir Al-ʿAjlani came to ʿAsim bin ʿAdi and said, "If a man found another man with his wife and killed him, would you sentence the husband to death (in Qisas,) i.e., equality in punishment)? O ʿAsim! Please ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ about this matter on my behalf." ʿAsim asked the Prophet ﷺ but the Prophet disliked the question and disapproved of it. ʿAsim returned and informed 'Uwaimir that the Prophet disliked that type of question. 'Uwaimir said, "By Allah, I will go (personally) to the Prophet." 'Uwaimir came to the Prophet ﷺ when Allah had already revealed Qur'anic Verses (in that respect), after ʿAsim had left (the Prophet ﷺ ). So the Prophet ﷺ said to 'Uwaimir, "Allah has revealed Qur'anic Verses regarding you and your wife." The Prophet ﷺ then called for them, and they came and carried out the order of Lian. Then 'Uwaimir said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Now if I kept her with me, I would be accused of telling a lie." So 'Uwaimir divorced her although the Prophet ﷺ did not order him to do so. Later on this practice of divorcing became the tradition of couples involved in a case of Li'an. The Prophet ﷺ said (to the people). "Wait for her! If she delivers a red short (small) child like a Wahra (a short red animal). then I will be of the opinion that he ('Uwaimir) has told a lie but if she delivered a black big-eyed one with big buttocks, then I will be of the opinion that he has told the truth about her." 'Ultimately she gave birth to a child that proved the accusation. (See Hadith No. 269, Vol. 6) (Using translation from Bukhārī 7304)   

أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلًا وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا فَقَتَلَهُ أَتَقْتُلُونَهُ؟ سَلْ لِي يَا عَاصِمُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَسَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَكَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا فَرَجَعَ عَاصِمٌ إِلَى عُوَيْمِرٍ فَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَرِهَ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا فَقَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللهِ لَآتِيَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَجَاءَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ وَقَدْ نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ خِلَافَ عَاصِمٍ فَسَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ قَدْ نَزَلَ فِيكُمَا الْقُرْآنُ فَتَقَدَّمَا فَتَلَاعَنَا ثُمَّ قَالَ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ أَمْسَكْتُهَا فَفَارَقَهَا وَمَا أَمَرَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَمَضَتْ سُنَّةَ الْمُتَلَاعِنَيْنِ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَحْمَرَ قَصِيرًا كَأَنَّهُ وَحَرَةٌ فَلَا أَحْسَبُهُ إِلَّا قَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَسْحَمَ أَعْيَنَ ذَا أَلْيَتَيْنِ فَلَا أَحْسَبُهُ إِلَّا قَدْ صَدَقَ عَلَيْهَا فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى النَّعْتِ الْمَكْرُوهِ