I was asked about the invokers of curses during the reign of Mus'ab (b. Zubair) whether they could separate (themselves by this process). He said: I did not understand what to say. So I went to the house of Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) in Mecca. I said to his servant: Seek permission for Me. He said that he (Ibn 'Umar) had been taking rest. He (Ibn 'Umar) heard my voice. and said: Are you Ibn Jubair? I said: Yes. He'said: Come in. By Allah, it must be some (great) need which has brought you here at this Hour. So I got in and found him lying on a blanket reclining against a pillow stuffed with fibres of date-palm. I said: O Abu'Abd al-Rahman, should there be separation between the invokers of curses? He said: Hallowed be Allah, yes, The first one who asked about it was so and so. he said: Messenger of Allah, tell me If one of us finds his wife committing adultery: what should he do? If he talks, that is something great, and if he keeps quiet that is also (something great) (which he cannot afford to do). Allah's Prophet ﷺ kept quiet (or some time). After some time he (that very person) came to him (Messenger of Allah) and said: I have been involved in that very cage about which I had asked you Allah the Exalted and Majestic then revealed (these) verses of Surah Nur:" Those who accuse their wives" (verse 6), and he (the Holy Prophet) recited them to him and admonished him, and exhorted him and informed him that the torment of the world is less painful than the torment of the Hereafter. He said: No, by Him Who sent you with Truth, I did not tell a lie against her. He (the Holy Prophet) then called her (the wife of that person who had accused her) and admonished her, and exhorted her, and informed her that the torment of this world is less painful than the torment of the Hereafter. She said: No, by Him Who sent thee with Truth, he is a liar. (it was) the man who started the swearing of oath and he swore in the name of Allah four times that he was among the truthful. and at the fifth turn he said: Let there be curse of Allah upon him if he were among the liars. Then the woman was called and she swore four times in the name of Allah that he (her husband) was among the liars, and at the fifth time (she said): Let there be curse upon her if he were among the truthful. He (the Holy Prophet) then effected separation between the two.  

عَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ فِي إِمْرَةِ مُصْعَبٍ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ فَمَا دَرَيْتُ مَا أَقُولُ فَمَضَيْتُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ بِمَكَّةَ فَقُلْتُ لِلْغُلاَمِ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِي قَالَ إِنَّهُ قَائِلٌ فَسَمِعَ صَوْتِي قَالَ ابْنُ جُبَيْرٍ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ ادْخُلْ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا جَاءَ بِكَ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ إِلاَّ حَاجَةٌ فَدَخَلْتُ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُفْتَرِشٌ بَرْذَعَةً مُتَوَسِّدٌ وِسَادَةً حَشْوُهَا لِيفٌ قُلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَانِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ نَعَمْ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فُلاَنُ بْنُ فُلاَنٍ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ أَنْ لَوْ وَجَدَ أَحَدُنَا امْرَأَتَهُ عَلَى فَاحِشَةٍ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ إِنْ تَكَلَّمَ تَكَلَّمَ بِأَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَتَاهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الَّذِي سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْهُ قَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷻ هَؤُلاَءِ الآيَاتِ فِي سُورَةِ النُّورِ { وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ} فَتَلاَهُنَّ عَلَيْهِ وَوَعَظَهُ وَذَكَّرَهُ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ قَالَ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ دَعَاهَا فَوَعَظَهَا وَذَكَّرَهَا وَأَخْبَرَهَا أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ قَالَتْ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُ لَكَاذِبٌ فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ثُمَّ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا  

"The first Li'an in Islam was when Hilal bin Umayyah accused Sharik bin As-Sahma' (of committing adultery) with his wife. He came to the Prophet and told him about that. The Prophet said: '(Bring) four witnesses, otherwise (you will feel) the Hadd punishment on your back.' And he repeated that several times. Hilal said to him: 'By Allah, O Messenger of Allah! Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, knows that I am telling the truth, and Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will certainly reveal to you that which will spare my back from the whip.' While they were like that, the Verse of Li'an was revealed to him: 'As to those who accuse their wives.' He called Hilal and he bore witness four times by Allah that he was telling the truth, and the fifth time he invoked the curse of Allah upon him if he were lying. Then he called the woman and she bore witness four times by Allah that he was lying. When it came to the fourth or fifth time, the Messenger of Allah said: 'Stop her, for it will inevitably bring the punishment of Allah upon the liar.' She hesitated until we thought that she was going to confess, then she said: 'I will not dishonor my people today.' Then she went ahead with the oath. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Wait and see. If she produces a child who is white, with straight hair and Qadiy'a eyes, then he belongs to Hilal bin Umayyah, but if she produces a child who is dark with curly hair, of average size and with narrow calves, then he belongs to Sharik bin As-Sahma'.' She produced a child who was dark with curly hair, of average size and with narrow calves. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Had not the matter been settled by the Book of Allah, I would have punished her severely.'"  

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ لِعَانٍ كَانَ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ أَنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ قَذَفَ شَرِيكَ ابْنَ السَّحْمَاءِ بِامْرَأَتِهِ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَرْبَعَةَ شُهَدَاءَ وَإِلاَّ فَحَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ يُرَدِّدُ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ مِرَارًا فَقَالَ لَهُ هِلاَلٌ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ لَيَعْلَمُ أَنِّي صَادِقٌ وَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللَّهُ ﷻ عَلَيْكَ مَا يُبَرِّئُ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْجَلْدِ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ آيَةُ اللِّعَانِ { وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ } إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ فَدَعَا هِلاَلاً فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ دُعِيَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ كَانَ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ أَوِ الْخَامِسَةِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقِّفُوهَا فَإِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ فَتَلَكَّأَتْ حَتَّى مَا شَكَكْنَا أَنَّهَا سَتَعْتَرِفُ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لاَ أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ فَمَضَتْ عَلَى الْيَمِينِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَبْيَضَ سَبِطًا قَضِيءَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِهِلاَلِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ آدَمَ جَعْدًا رَبْعًا حَمْشَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ ابْنِ السَّحْمَاءِ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ آدَمَ جَعْدًا رَبْعًا حَمْشَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَوْلاَ مَا سَبَقَ فِيهَا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ قَالَ الشَّيْخُ وَالْقَضِيءُ طَوِيلُ شَعْرِ الْعَيْنَيْنِ لَيْسَ بِمَفْتُوحِ الْعَيْنِ وَلاَ جَاحِظِهِمَا وَاللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى أَعْلَمُ  

"I heard Sa'eed bin Jubair say: 'I was asked about the two who engage in Li'an during the governorship of Ibn Az-Zubair - should they be separated? I did not know what to say, so I got up and went to the house of Ibn 'Umar and said: "O Abu 'Abdur-Rahman, should the two who engage in Li'an be separated?" He said: "Yes, Subhan Allah! The first one who asked about that was so-and-so the son of so-and-so who said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what do you think if a man among us sees his wife committing immoral actions, and if he speaks of it, he will be speaking of a grave matter, but if he keeps quiet, he will be keeping quiet about a grave matter?' He did not answer him, then after that, he came to him and said: 'I was tried with the matter that I asked you about, so Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, revealed these Verses in Surat An-Nur.: 'And for those who accuse their wives' until he reached: 'And the fifth (testimony) should be that the Wrath of Allah be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth.' So he started with the man, exhorting him, reminding him, and telling him that the punishment in this world was less severe than the punishment in the Hereafter. He said: 'By the One Who sent you with the truth, I am not lying.' Then he turned to the woman and exhorted her and reminded her. She said: 'By the One Who sent you with the truth, he is lying.' So he started with the man, and he bore witness four times by Allah that he was telling the truth, and the fifth time (he invoked) the curse of Allah upon himself if he was lying. Then he turned to the woman and she bore witness four times by Allah that he was lying, and the fifth time (she invoked) the wrath of Allah upon herself if he was telling the truth. Then he separated them."'"  

سُئِلْتُ عَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ فِي إِمَارَةِ ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا فَمَا دَرَيْتُ مَا أَقُولُ فَقُمْتُ مِنْ مَقَامِي إِلَى مَنْزِلِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ نَعَمْ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فُلاَنُ بْنُ فُلاَنٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ عَمْرٌو أَرَأَيْتَ الرَّجُلَ مِنَّا يَرَى عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ فَاحِشَةً إِنْ تَكَلَّمَ فَأَمْرٌ عَظِيمٌ وَقَالَ عَمْرٌو أَتَى أَمْرًا عَظِيمًا وَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَتَاهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الأَمْرَ الَّذِي سَأَلْتُكَ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷻ هَؤُلاَءِ الآيَاتِ فِي سُورَةِ النُّورِ { وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ } حَتَّى بَلَغَ { وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ } فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَوَعَظَهُ وَذَكَّرَهُ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَذَبْتُ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَوَعَظَهَا وَذَكَّرَهَا فَقَالَتْ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُ لَكَاذِبٌ فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ فَفَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا  

"I was asked about those who were involved in the case of Li'an and if they are to be separated, during the leadership of Mus'ab bin Az-Zubair. I did not know what to say. So I went to the house of Abdullah bin Umar and I sought permission to enter. I was told that he was taking a nap, but he heard me talking and he said: 'Is it Ibn Jubair? Enter. You would not have come except for a need.'"He said: "So I entered and found him lying on a saddlecloth from his mount. I said: 'O Abu Abdur-Rahman! Are those involved in Li'an separated?' He said: 'Glorious is Allah! Yes. The first who asked about that was so-and-so the son of so-and-so. He came to the Prophet and said: "O Messenger of Allah! If one of us saw his wife committing adultery what should he do? If he were to say anything, his statement would be a horrible matter, and if he were to remain silent, his silence about the matter would be horrible." "He said: 'So the Prophet remained silent and did not answer him. Afterwards he came to the Prophet and said: "The one who asked you about it has been tried by it." So Allah revealed these Ayat from Surat An-Nur. And those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves - until the end of those Ayat. So he called for the man and recited the Ayat to him and admonished him, reminded him, and he told him: "Indeed the punishment of the world is less than the punishment of the Hereafter." So he said: "Nay! By the One Who sent you with the truth! I did not lie about her." Then he did the same with the woman, admonished her and reminding her and he told her: "Indeed the punishment of the world is less than the punishment of the Hereafter." She said: "Nay! By the One Who sent you with the truth! He is not telling the truth.'" "He said: 'So he started with the man: He testified four times, by Allah that he is one of the truthful, and the fifth time that the curse of Allah be upon him if he was one of the liars. Then the same with the woman: She testified four times by Allah, that he was one of the liars, and the fifth time that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he was one of the truthful. Then he separated the two of them.'"  

فَدَخَلْتُ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُفْتَرِشٌ بَرْدَعَةَ رَحْلٍ لَهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَانِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ نَعَمْ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فُلاَنُ بْنُ فُلاَنٍ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَنَا رَأَى امْرَأَتَهُ عَلَى فَاحِشَةٍ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ إِنْ تَكَلَّمَ تَكَلَّمَ بِأَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى أَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الَّذِي سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْهُ قَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ هَذِهِ الآيَاتِ الَّتِي فِي سُورَةِ النُّور (وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ ) حَتَّى خَتَمَ الآيَاتِ فَدَعَا الرَّجُلَ فَتَلاَ الآيَاتِ عَلَيْهِ وَوَعَظَهُ وَذَكَّرَهُ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَوَعَظَهَا وَذَكَّرَهَا وَأَخْبَرَهَا أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ فَقَالَتْ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا صَدَقَ قَالَ فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ثُمَّ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَحُذَيْفَةَ  

"I was asked about those who were involved in the case of Li'an and if they are to be separated, during the leadership of Mus'ab bin Az-Zubair. I did not know what to say. So I went to the house of 'Abdullah bin 'Umar and I sought permission to enter. I was told he was taking a nap, but he heard me taking and he said: 'Is it Ibn Jubair? Enter. You would not have come except for a need.'" He said: "So I entered and found him laying on a saddlecloth from his mount. I said: 'O Abu 'Abdur-Rahman! Are those involved in Li'an separated?' He said: 'Glorious is Allah! Yes. The first who asked about hat was so-and-so the son of so-and-so. He came to the Prophet ﷺ and said "O Messenger of Allah! If one of us saw his wife committing adultery, what should he do? If he were to say anything, his statement would be a horrible matter, and if he were to remain silent, his silence about the matter would be horrible." He said: 'So the Prophet ﷺ remained silent and did not answer him. Afterwards he came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: "The one who asked you about it has been tried by it." So Allah revealed these Ayat from Surat An-Nur: 'And those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies by Allah (24:6-10)' - until the end of those Ayat. He said: 'So he called for the man and recited the Ayat to him and admonished him, reminded him, and he told him: "Indeed the punishment of the world is less than the punishment of the Hereafter." So he said: "Nay! By the One Who sent you with the Truth! I did not lie about her." Then he ﷺ did the same with the woman, admonishing her and reminding her and he told her: "Indeed the punishment of the world is less than the punishment of the Hereafter." She said: "Nay! By the One Who sent you with the Truth! He is not telling the truth.'" "He said: 'So he started with the man: He testified four times, by Allah that he is one of the truthful, and the fifth time that the curse of Allah be upon him if he was one of the liars. Then the same with the woman: She testified four times by Allah, that he was one of the liars, and the fifth time that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he was one of the truthful. Then he separated the two of them.'"  

سُئِلْتُ عَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ فِي إِمَارَةِ مُصْعَبِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا فَمَا دَرَيْتُ مَا أَقُولُ فَقُمْتُ مِنْ مَكَانِي إِلَى مَنْزِلِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقِيلَ لِي إِنَّهُ قَائِلٌ فَسَمِعَ كَلاَمِي فَقَالَ لِي ابْنَ جُبَيْرٍ ادْخُلْ مَا جَاءَ بِكَ إِلاَّ حَاجَةٌ قَالَ فَدَخَلْتُ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُفْتَرِشٌ بَرْدَعَةَ رَحْلٍ لَهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَانِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ نَعَمْ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فُلاَنُ بْنُ فُلاَنٍ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَنَا رَأَى امْرَأَتَهُ عَلَى فَاحِشَةٍ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ إِنْ تَكَلَّمَ تَكَلَّمَ بِأَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى أَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الَّذِي سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْهُ قَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ هَذِهِ الآيَاتِ فِي سُورَةِ النُّورِ {والَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ} حَتَّى خَتَمَ الآيَاتِ قَالَ فَدَعَا الرَّجُلَ فَتَلاَهُنَّ عَلَيْهِ وَوَعَظَهُ وَذَكَّرَهُ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ وَوَعَظَهَا وَذَكَّرَهَا وَأَخْبَرَهَا أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ فَقَالَتْ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا صَدَقَ فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ثُمَّ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا  

"I heard Sa'eed bin Jubair say: 'I was asked about the two who engage in Li'an during the governorship of Ibn Az-Zubair - should they be separated? I did not know what to say, so I got up and went to the house of Ibn 'Umar and said: "O Abu 'Abdur-Rahman, should the two who engage in Li'an be separated?" He said: "Yes, Subhan Allah! The first one who asked about that was so-and-so the son of so-and-so who said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what do you think if a man among us sees his wife committing immoral actions, and if he speaks of it, he will be speaking of a grave matter, but if he keeps quiet, he will be keeping quiet about a grave matter?' He did not answer him, then after that, he came to him and said: 'I was tried with the matter that I asked you about, so Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, revealed these Verses in Surat An-Nur.: 'And for those who accuse their wives' until he reached: 'And the fifth (testimony) should be that the Wrath of Allah be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth.' So he started with the man, exhorting him, reminding him, and telling him that the punishment in this world was less severe than the punishment in the Hereafter. He said: 'By the One Who sent you with the truth, I am not lying.' Then he turned to the woman and exhorted her and reminded her. She said: 'By the One Who sent you with the truth, he is lying.' So he started with the man, and he bore witness four times by Allah that he was telling the truth, and the fifth time (he invoked) the curse of Allah upon himself if he was lying. Then he turned to the woman and she bore witness four times by Allah that he was lying, and the fifth time (she invoked) the wrath of Allah upon herself if he was telling the truth. Then he separated them."'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3473)   

سُئِلْتُ عَنِ الْمُتَلَاعِنَيْنِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ فِي إِمَارَةِ ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ فَمَا دَرَيْتُ مَا أَقُولُ فَقُمْتُ مِنْ مَكَانِي إِلَى مَنْزِلِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ فَقُلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُتَلَاعِنَانِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَرَأَيْتَ الرَّجُلَ يَرَى امْرَأَتَهُ عَلَى فَاحِشَةٍ فَإِنْ تَكَلَّمَ تَكَلَّمَ بِأَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ؟ فَسَكَتَ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدُ أَتَاهُ فَقَالَ الَّذِي سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْهُ قَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ؟ فَأَنْزَلَاللهُ ﷻ هَؤُلَاءِ الْآيَاتِ فِي سُورَةِ النُّورِ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ} [النور 6] حَتَّى بَلَغَ {أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ} [النور 9] فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَوَعَظَهُ وَذَكَّرَهُ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَذَبْتُكَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَوَعَظَهَا وَذَكَّرَهَا وَأَخْبَرَهَا أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَتْ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُ لَكَاذِبٌ قَالَ فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ثُمَّ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا  

"I was asked about those who were involved in the case of Li'an and if they are to be separated, during the leadership of Mus'ab bin Az-Zubair. I did not know what to say. So I went to the house of Abdullah bin Umar and I sought permission to enter. I was told that he was taking a nap, but he heard me talking and he said: 'Is it Ibn Jubair? Enter. You would not have come except for a need.'"He said: "So I entered and found him lying on a saddlecloth from his mount. I said: 'O Abu Abdur-Rahman! Are those involved in Li'an separated?' He said: 'Glorious is Allah! Yes. The first who asked about that was so-and-so the son of so-and-so. He came to the Prophet and said: "O Messenger of Allah! If one of us saw his wife committing adultery what should he do? If he were to say anything, his statement would be a horrible matter, and if he were to remain silent, his silence about the matter would be horrible." "He said: 'So the Prophet remained silent and did not answer him. Afterwards he came to the Prophet and said: "The one who asked you about it has been tried by it." So Allah revealed these Ayat from Surat An-Nur. And those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves - until the end of those Ayat. So he called for the man and recited the Ayat to him and admonished him, reminded him, and he told him: "Indeed the punishment of the world is less than the punishment of the Hereafter." So he said: "Nay! By the One Who sent you with the truth! I did not lie about her." Then he did the same with the woman, admonished her and reminding her and he told her: "Indeed the punishment of the world is less than the punishment of the Hereafter." She said: "Nay! By the One Who sent you with the truth! He is not telling the truth.'" "He said: 'So he started with the man: He testified four times, by Allah that he is one of the truthful, and the fifth time that the curse of Allah be upon him if he was one of the liars. Then the same with the woman: She testified four times by Allah, that he was one of the liars, and the fifth time that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he was one of the truthful. Then he separated the two of them.'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 1202)   

ادْخُلْ فَمَا جَاءَ بِكَ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ إِلَّا حَاجَةٌ قَالَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَوَجَدْتُهُ وَهُوَ مُفْتَرِشٌ بَرْذَعَةَ رَحْلِهِ مُتَوَسِّدٌ مِرْفَقَةً أَوْ قَالَ نُمْرُقَةً شَكَّ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَشْوُهَا لِيفٌ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُتَلَاعِنَانِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ نَعَمْ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فُلَانٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَنَا رَأَى امْرَأَتَهُ عَلَى فَاحِشَةٍ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ؟ إِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى أَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنْ تَكَلَّمَ فَمِثْلُ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ فَقَامَ لِحَاجَتِهِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الَّذِي سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْهُ قَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ قَالَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى هَؤُلَاءِ الْآيَاتِ الَّتِي فِي سُورَةِ النُّورِ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلَّا أَنْفُسُهُمْ فَشَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَرْبَعُ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَيَدْرَأُ عَنْهَا الْعَذَابَ أَن تَشْهَدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِين} َحتى ختم هَؤُلَاءِ الْآيَاتِ قَالَ فَدَعَا الرَّجُلَ فَتَلَاهُنَّ عَلَيْهِ وَذَكَّرَهُ بِاللَّهِ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ مَا كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ دَعَا الْمَرَأَةَ فَوَعَظَهَا وَذَكَّرَهَا وَأَخْبَرَهَا أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَتْ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُ لَكَاذِبٌ فَدَعَا الرَّجُلَ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ثُمَّ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا  

"I was asked about those who were involved in the case of Li'an and if they are to be separated, during the leadership of Mus'ab bin Az-Zubair. I did not know what to say. So I went to the house of Abdullah bin Umar and I sought permission to enter. I was told that he was taking a nap, but he heard me talking and he said: 'Is it Ibn Jubair? Enter. You would not have come except for a need.'"He said: "So I entered and found him lying on a saddlecloth from his mount. I said: 'O Abu Abdur-Rahman! Are those involved in Li'an separated?' He said: 'Glorious is Allah! Yes. The first who asked about that was so-and-so the son of so-and-so. He came to the Prophet and said: "O Messenger of Allah! If one of us saw his wife committing adultery what should he do? If he were to say anything, his statement would be a horrible matter, and if he were to remain silent, his silence about the matter would be horrible." "He said: 'So the Prophet remained silent and did not answer him. Afterwards he came to the Prophet and said: "The one who asked you about it has been tried by it." So Allah revealed these Ayat from Surat An-Nur. And those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves - until the end of those Ayat. So he called for the man and recited the Ayat to him and admonished him, reminded him, and he told him: "Indeed the punishment of the world is less than the punishment of the Hereafter." So he said: "Nay! By the One Who sent you with the truth! I did not lie about her." Then he did the same with the woman, admonished her and reminding her and he told her: "Indeed the punishment of the world is less than the punishment of the Hereafter." She said: "Nay! By the One Who sent you with the truth! He is not telling the truth.'" "He said: 'So he started with the man: He testified four times, by Allah that he is one of the truthful, and the fifth time that the curse of Allah be upon him if he was one of the liars. Then the same with the woman: She testified four times by Allah, that he was one of the liars, and the fifth time that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he was one of the truthful. Then he separated the two of them.'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 1202)   

الْغُلَامُ إِنَّهُ قَائِلٌ فَقُلْتُ مَا بُدَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَدْخُلَ عَلَيْهِ فَسَمِعَ صَوْتِي فَعَرَفَهُ وَقَالَ أَسَعِيدٌ؟ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ ادْخُلْ مَا جِئْتَ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ إِلَّا لِحَاجَةٍ فَدَخَلْتُ وَهُوَ مُفْتَرِشٌ بَرْذَعَةَ رَحْلِهِ مُتَوَسِّدٌ وِسَادَةً حَشْوهَا لِيفٌ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُتَلَاعِنَانِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ نَعَمْ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَنَا رَأَى امْرَأَتَهُ عَلَى فَاحِشَةٍ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ؟ إِنْ تَكَلَّمَ تَكَلَّمَ بِأَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدُ ذَلِكَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الَّذِي سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْهُ قَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ «فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ وَعَلَا هَؤُلَاءِ الْآيَاتِ فَدَعَا الرَّجُلَ فَتَلَاهُنَّ عَلَيْهِ وَوَعَظَهُ وَذَكَّرَهُ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ» فَقَالَ لَا وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا «ثُمَّ دَعَا بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَوَعَظَهَا وَذَكَّرَهَا وَأَخْبَرَهَا أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ» فَقَالَتْ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُ لَكَاذِبٌ «فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لِمَنِ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لِمَنِ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ غَضِبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ثُمَّ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا»  

"I was asked about those who were involved in the case of Li'an and if they are to be separated, during the leadership of Mus'ab bin Az-Zubair. I did not know what to say. So I went to the house of Abdullah bin Umar and I sought permission to enter. I was told that he was taking a nap, but he heard me talking and he said: 'Is it Ibn Jubair? Enter. You would not have come except for a need.'"He said: "So I entered and found him lying on a saddlecloth from his mount. I said: 'O Abu Abdur-Rahman! Are those involved in Li'an separated?' He said: 'Glorious is Allah! Yes. The first who asked about that was so-and-so the son of so-and-so. He came to the Prophet and said: "O Messenger of Allah! If one of us saw his wife committing adultery what should he do? If he were to say anything, his statement would be a horrible matter, and if he were to remain silent, his silence about the matter would be horrible." "He said: 'So the Prophet remained silent and did not answer him. Afterwards he came to the Prophet and said: "The one who asked you about it has been tried by it." So Allah revealed these Ayat from Surat An-Nur. And those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves - until the end of those Ayat. So he called for the man and recited the Ayat to him and admonished him, reminded him, and he told him: "Indeed the punishment of the world is less than the punishment of the Hereafter." So he said: "Nay! By the One Who sent you with the truth! I did not lie about her." Then he did the same with the woman, admonished her and reminding her and he told her: "Indeed the punishment of the world is less than the punishment of the Hereafter." She said: "Nay! By the One Who sent you with the truth! He is not telling the truth.'" "He said: 'So he started with the man: He testified four times, by Allah that he is one of the truthful, and the fifth time that the curse of Allah be upon him if he was one of the liars. Then the same with the woman: She testified four times by Allah, that he was one of the liars, and the fifth time that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he was one of the truthful. Then he separated the two of them.'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 1202)   

يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ الرَّجُلُ يَرَى امْرَأَتَهُ عَلَى الْفَاحِشَةِ فَإِنْ تَكَلَّمَ تَكَلَّمَ بِأَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَنْ أَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ؟ فَسَكَتَ عَنْهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَجَاءَهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ الْأَمْرُ الَّذِي سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْهُ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ؟ قَالَ فَإِنَّ اللهَ قَالَ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلَّا أَنْفُسُهُمْ فَشَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَرْبَعُ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ} [النور 6] حَتَّى قَرَأَ الْآيَاتِ كُلَّهَا فَذَكَّرَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُ لِلْحَقُّ ثُمَّ دَعَا الْمَرْأَةَ فَذَكَّرَهَا اللهَ وَأَخْبَرَهَا أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَتْ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَانَ هَذَا فَقَالَ لِلرَّجُلِ تَشْهَدُ {أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ} ثُمَّ شَهِدَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ثُمَّ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا  

[Machine] Glory be to Allah. Yes, a man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah, what should a person do if he sees his wife engaging in immorality?" The Messenger of Allah remained silent and did not answer him. Then he came to him again and said, "I have been tested with this, O Messenger of Allah." So Allah revealed these verses from Surah An-Nur, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called the man and he testified four times by Allah that he is telling the truth, and the fifth time that the curse of Allah be upon him if he is lying. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called the woman and she testified four times by Allah that she is lying, and the fifth time that the anger of Allah be upon her if she is telling the truth. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ separated between them.  

سُبْحَانَ اللهِ نَعَمْ أَتَى رَجُلٌ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَرَأَيْتَ أَحَدُنَا يَرَى امْرَأَتَهُ عَلَى فَاحِشَةٍ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ؟ فَسَكَتَ عَنْهُ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ فَقَالَ إِنِّي قَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ هَذِهِ الْآيَاتِ مِنْ سُورَةِ النُّورِ وَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الرَّجُلَ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ثُمَّ فَرَّقَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بَيْنَهُمَا  

"The first Li'an in Islam was when Hilal bin Umayyah accused Sharik bin As-Sahma' (of committing adultery) with his wife. He came to the Prophet and told him about that. The Prophet said: '(Bring) four witnesses, otherwise (you will feel) the Hadd punishment on your back.' And he repeated that several times. Hilal said to him: 'By Allah, O Messenger of Allah! Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, knows that I am telling the truth, and Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will certainly reveal to you that which will spare my back from the whip.' While they were like that, the Verse of Li'an was revealed to him: 'As to those who accuse their wives.' He called Hilal and he bore witness four times by Allah that he was telling the truth, and the fifth time he invoked the curse of Allah upon him if he were lying. Then he called the woman and she bore witness four times by Allah that he was lying. When it came to the fourth or fifth time, the Messenger of Allah said: 'Stop her, for it will inevitably bring the punishment of Allah upon the liar.' She hesitated until we thought that she was going to confess, then she said: 'I will not dishonor my people today.' Then she went ahead with the oath. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Wait and see. If she produces a child who is white, with straight hair and Qadiy'a eyes, then he belongs to Hilal bin Umayyah, but if she produces a child who is dark with curly hair, of average size and with narrow calves, then he belongs to Sharik bin As-Sahma'.' She produced a child who was dark with curly hair, of average size and with narrow calves. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Had not the matter been settled by the Book of Allah, I would have punished her severely.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3469)  

أَنَّ هِلَالَ ابْنَ أُمَيَّةَ قَذَفَ شَرِيكَ بْنَ السَّحْمَاءِ بِامْرَأَتِهِ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «أَرْبَعَةَ شُهَدَاءَ وَإِلَّا فَحَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ» يُرَدِّدُ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ مِرَارًا فَقَالَ لَهُ هِلَالٌ وَاللهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ اللهَ لَيَعْلَمُ أَنِّي صَادِقٌ وَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللهُ عَلَيْكَ مَا يُبَرِّئُ بِهِ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْحَدِّ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ آيَةُ اللِّعَانِ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ} [النور 6] إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَاتِ فَدُعِيَ هِلَالٌ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ دُعِيَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ كَانَ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ أَوِ الْخَامِسَةِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «وَقِّفُوهَا فَإِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ» فَتَلَكَّأَتْ حَتَّى مَا شَكَكْنَا أَنَّهَا سَتَعْتَرِفُ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لَا أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ فَمَضَتْ عَلَى الْيَمِينِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَبْيَضَ سَبِطًا قَضِيءَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِهِلَالِ ابْنِ أُمَيَّةَ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ آدَمَ جَعْدًا رَبْعًا حَمْشَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ آدَمَ جَعْدًا رَبْعًا حَمْشَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «لَوْلَا مَا سَبَقَ فِيهَا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ» وَالْقَضِيءُ الْعَيْنَيْنِ طَوِيلَ شُفْرِ الْعَيْنَيْنِ لَيْسَ بِمَفْتُوحِ الْعَيْنِ وَلَا جَاحِظِهِمَا  

"I heard Sa'eed bin Jubair say: 'I was asked about the two who engage in Li'an during the governorship of Ibn Az-Zubair - should they be separated? I did not know what to say, so I got up and went to the house of Ibn 'Umar and said: "O Abu 'Abdur-Rahman, should the two who engage in Li'an be separated?" He said: "Yes, Subhan Allah! The first one who asked about that was so-and-so the son of so-and-so who said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what do you think if a man among us sees his wife committing immoral actions, and if he speaks of it, he will be speaking of a grave matter, but if he keeps quiet, he will be keeping quiet about a grave matter?' He did not answer him, then after that, he came to him and said: 'I was tried with the matter that I asked you about, so Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, revealed these Verses in Surat An-Nur.: 'And for those who accuse their wives' until he reached: 'And the fifth (testimony) should be that the Wrath of Allah be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth.' So he started with the man, exhorting him, reminding him, and telling him that the punishment in this world was less severe than the punishment in the Hereafter. He said: 'By the One Who sent you with the truth, I am not lying.' Then he turned to the woman and exhorted her and reminded her. She said: 'By the One Who sent you with the truth, he is lying.' So he started with the man, and he bore witness four times by Allah that he was telling the truth, and the fifth time (he invoked) the curse of Allah upon himself if he was lying. Then he turned to the woman and she bore witness four times by Allah that he was lying, and the fifth time (she invoked) the wrath of Allah upon herself if he was telling the truth. Then he separated them."'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3473)   

يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَرَأَيْتَ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ عَمْرٌو أَرَأَيْتَ الرَّجُلُ مِنَّا يَرَى عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ فَاحِشَةً إِنْ تَكَلَّمَ فَأَمْرٌ عَظِيمٌ قَالَ عَمْرٌو أَتَى أَمْرًا عَظِيمًا وَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَتَاهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْأَمْرَ الَّذِي سَأَلْتُكَ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ هَؤُلَاءِ الْآيَاتِ فِي سُورَةِ النُّورِ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ} [النور 6] حَتَّى بَلَغَ {وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضِبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ} [النور 9] فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَوَعَظَهُ وَذَكَّرَهُ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَذَبْتُ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَوَعَظَهَا وَذَكَّرَهَا فَقَالَتْ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُ لَكَاذِبٌ فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضِبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ فَفَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا  

Ibn ‘Abbas said “Hilal bin Umayyah accused his wife in the presence of Prophet ﷺ of having committed adultery with Sharik bin Sahma’”. The Prophet ﷺ said “Produce evidence or you must receive punishment on your back.” He said “Apostle of Allaah ﷺ when one of us sees a man having intercourse with his wife should he go and seek evidence?” But the Prophet ﷺ merely said “You must produce evidence or you must receive punishment on your back.” Hilal then said “By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I am speaking Truly. May Allaah send down something which will free my back from punishment. Then the following Qur’anic verses were revealed “And those who make charges against their spouses but have no witnesses except themselves” reciting till he reached “one of those who speak the truth”. The Prophet ﷺ then returned and sent for them and they came (to him). Hilal bin Umayyah stood up and testified and the Prophet ﷺ was saying “Allaah knows that one of you is lying. Will one of you repent?” Then the woman got up and testified, but when she was about to do it a fifth time saying that Allaah’s anger be upon her if he was one of those who spoke the truth, they said to her “this is the deciding one”. Ibn ‘Abbas said “She then hesitated and drew back so that we thought the she would withdraw(what she said) “Look and see whether she gives birth to a child with eyes looking as if they have antimony in them, wide buttocks and fat legs, if she did. Sharik bin Sahma’ will be its father. She then gave birth to a child of a similar description. The Prophet ﷺ thereupon said “If it were not for what has already been stated in Allaah’s book I would have dealt severely with her.” Abu Dawud said “This tradition has been transmitted by the people of Medina alone. They narrated the tradition of Hilal on the authority of Ibn Bashshar.” (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2254)   

لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْبَيِّنَةُ أَوْ حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُنَا رَجُلًا عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ أَيَلْتَمِسُ الْبَيِّنَةَ؟ فَجَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ الْبَيِّنَةُ وَإِلَّا حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ فَقَالَ هِلَالٌ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ وَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللهُ فِي أَمْرِي مَا يُبَرِّئُ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْحَدِّ فَنَزَلَ جَبْرَائِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَنَزَلَتِ الْآيَةُ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلَّا أَنْفُسُهُمْ} [النور 6] فَقَرَأَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ {وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ} [النور 9] قَالَ فَانْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمَا فَجَاءَا فَقَامَ هِلَالُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ فَشَهِدَ وَالنَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ اللهَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبٌ؟ ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَشَهِدَتْ فَلَمَّا كَانَ عِنْدَ {الْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ} [النور 9] قَالُوا لَهَا إِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَتَلَكَّأَتْ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهَا سَتَرْجِعُ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لَا أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ فَمَضَتْ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ سَابِغَ الْأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَوْلَا مَا مَضَى مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ تَعَالَى لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ  

I was asked about the invokers of curses during the reign of Mus'ab (b. Zubair) whether they could separate (themselves by this process). He said: I did not understand what to say. So I went to the house of Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) in Mecca. I said to his servant: Seek permission for Me. He said that he (Ibn 'Umar) had been taking rest. He (Ibn 'Umar) heard my voice. and said: Are you Ibn Jubair? I said: Yes. He'said: Come in. By Allah, it must be some (great) need which has brought you here at this Hour. So I got in and found him lying on a blanket reclining against a pillow stuffed with fibres of date-palm. I said: O Abu'Abd al-Rahman, should there be separation between the invokers of curses? He said: Hallowed be Allah, yes, The first one who asked about it was so and so. he said: Messenger of Allah, tell me If one of us finds his wife committing adultery: what should he do? If he talks, that is something great, and if he keeps quiet that is also (something great) (which he cannot afford to do). Allah's Prophet ﷺ kept quiet (or some time). After some time he (that very person) came to him (Messenger of Allah) and said: I have been involved in that very cage about which I had asked you Allah the Exalted and Majestic then revealed (these) verses of Surah Nur:" Those who accuse their wives" (verse 6), and he (the Holy Prophet) recited them to him and admonished him, and exhorted him and informed him that the torment of the world is less painful than the torment of the Hereafter. He said: No, by Him Who sent you with Truth, I did not tell a lie against her. He (the Holy Prophet) then called her (the wife of that person who had accused her) and admonished her, and exhorted her, and informed her that the torment of this world is less painful than the torment of the Hereafter. She said: No, by Him Who sent thee with Truth, he is a liar. (it was) the man who started the swearing of oath and he swore in the name of Allah four times that he was among the truthful. and at the fifth turn he said: Let there be curse of Allah upon him if he were among the liars. Then the woman was called and she swore four times in the name of Allah that he (her husband) was among the liars, and at the fifth time (she said): Let there be curse upon her if he were among the truthful. He (the Holy Prophet) then effected separation between the two. (Using translation from Muslim 1493a)   

مَا جَاءَ بِكَ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ إِلَّا حَاجَةٌ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُفْتَرِشٌ بَرْذَعَةَ رَحْلِهِ مُتَوَسِّدًا بِوِسَادَةٍ حَشْوُهَا لِيفٌ أَوْ سَلَبٌ قَالَ السَّلَبُ يَعْنِي لِيفَ الْمَقْلِ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُتَلَاعِنَيْنِ يُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ نَعَمْ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ هَذَا فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَنَا رَأَى عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ إِنْ تَكَلَّمَ تَكَلَّمَ بِأَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ الَّذِي كُنْتُ سَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ قَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ قَالَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ ﷻ الْآيَاتِ الَّتِي فِي سُورَةِ النُّورِ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ} [النور 6] إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَاتِ قَالَ فَدَعَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِالرَّجُلِ فَتَلَا عَلَيْهِ وَوَعَظَهُ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا قَالَ ثُمَّ دَعَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَتَلَا عَلَيْهَا وَوَعَظَهَا وَذَكَّرَهَا وَأَخْبَرَهَا أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَتْ لَا وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا صَدَقَكَ لَقَدْ كَذَبَكَ قَالَ فَبَدَأَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِالرَّجُلِ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ أَنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَفِي الْخَامِسَةِ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ أَنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ قَالَ ثُمَّ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا