"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  

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.”  

أَنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ قَذَفَ امْرَأَتَهُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْبَيِّنَةَ أَوْ حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُنَا رَجُلاً عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ يَلْتَمِسُ الْبَيِّنَةَ فَجَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ الْبَيِّنَةَ وَإِلاَّ فَحَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ فَقَالَ هِلاَلٌ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ نَبِيًّا إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ وَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللَّهُ فِي أَمْرِي مَا يُبَرِّئُ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْحَدِّ فَنَزَلَتْ { وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ } فَقَرَأَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ { مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ } فَانْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمَا فَجَاءَا فَقَامَ هِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ فَشَهِدَ وَالنَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا مِنْ تَائِبٍ ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَشَهِدَتْ فَلَمَّا كَانَ عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَقَالُوا لَهَا إِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَتَلَكَّأَتْ وَنَكَصَتْ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهَا سَتَرْجِعُ فَقَالَتْ لاَ أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ فَمَضَتْ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَبْصِرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ سَابِغَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَوْلاَ مَا مَضَى مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ  

Ibn ‘Abbas said “Hilal bin Umayyah was one of the three persons whose repentance was accepted by Allaah. One night he returned from his land and found a man along with his wife. He witnessed with his eyes and heard with his ears. He did not threaten him till the morning.” Next day he went to the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ in the morning and said Apostle of Allaah ﷺ “I came to my wife in the night and found a man along with her. I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ disliked what he described and he took it seriously. There upon the following Qur’anic verse came down “And those who make charges against their spouses but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them ....” When the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ came to himself (after the revelation ended) he said “Glad tidings to you Hilal, Allaah the exalted has made ease and a way out for you.” Hilal said “I expected that from my Lord. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ said “Send for her. She then came.” The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ recited the verses to them and he reminded them and told them that the punishment in the next world was more severe than that in n this world. Hilal said “I swear by Allah I spoke the truth against her.” She said “He told a lie.” The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ said “Apply the method of invoking curses on one another. Hilal was told “Bear witness. So he bore witness before Allaah four times that he spoke the truth.” When he was about to utter the fifth time he was told “Hilal fear Allah, for the punishment in this world is easier than that in the next world and this is the deciding one, that will surely cause punishment to you.” He said “I swear by Allaah. Allah will not punish me for this (act), as He did not cause me to be flogged for this (act).” So he bore witness a fifth time invoking the curse of Allah on him if he was of those who tell a lie. Then the people said to her, Testify. So she gave testimony before Allaah that he was a liar. When she was going to testify the fifth time she was told “Fear Allah, for the punishment in this world is easier than that in the next world. This is the deciding one that will surely cause punishment to you.” She hesitated for a moment. And then said “By Allah, I will not disgrace my people.” So she testified a fifth time invoking the curse of Allah on her if he spoke the truth. Apostle of Allaah ﷺ separated them from each other and decided that the child will not be attributed to its father. Neither she nor her child will be accused of adultery. He who accuses her or her child will be liable to punishment. He also decided that there will be no dwelling and maintenance for her (from the husband) as they were separated without divorce and death. He then said “If she gives birth to a child with reddish hair, light buttocks, wide belly and light shins he will be the child of Hilal. If she bears a dusky child with curly hair, fat limbs, fat shins and fat buttocks he will be the child of the one who was accused of adultery. She gave birth to a child with curly hair, fat limbs, fat shins and fat buttocks. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ said “Had there been no oaths, I would have dealt with her severely.” ‘Ikrimah said “Later on he became the chief of the tribe of Mudar. He was not attributed to his father.”  

وَسَمِعَ بِأُذُنَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَهِجْهُ حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ ثُمَّ غَدَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي جِئْتُ أَهْلِي عِشَاءً فَوَجَدْتُ عِنْدَهُمْ رَجُلاً فَرَأَيْتُ بِعَيْنِي وَسَمِعْتُ بِأُذُنِي فَكَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ وَاشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ فَنَزَلَتْ { وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ فَشَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ } الآيَتَيْنِ كِلْتَيْهِمَا فَسُرِّيَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَبْشِرْ يَا هِلاَلُ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ ﷻ لَكَ فَرَجًا وَمَخْرَجًا قَالَ هِلاَلٌ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَرْجُو ذَلِكَ مِنْ رَبِّي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَرْسِلُوا إِلَيْهَا فَجَاءَتْ فَتَلاَ عَلَيْهِمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَذَكَّرَهُمَا وَأَخْبَرَهُمَا أَنَّ عَذَابَ الآخِرَةِ أَشَدُّ مِنْ عَذَابِ الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ هِلاَلٌ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ صَدَقْتُ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَتْ قَدْ كَذَبَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَعِنُوا بَيْنَهُمَا فَقِيلَ لِهِلاَلٍ اشْهَدْ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ الْخَامِسَةُ قِيلَ لَهُ يَا هِلاَلُ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ فَإِنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ الْمُوجِبَةُ الَّتِي تُوجِبُ عَلَيْكَ الْعَذَابَ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ يُعَذِّبُنِي اللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا كَمَا لَمْ يَجْلِدْنِي عَلَيْهَا فَشَهِدَ الْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ قِيلَ لَهَا اشْهَدِي فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ الْخَامِسَةُ قِيلَ لَهَا اتَّقِي اللَّهَ فَإِنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ الْمُوجِبَةُ الَّتِي تُوجِبُ عَلَيْكِ الْعَذَابَ فَتَلَكَّأَتْ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ قَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي فَشَهِدَتِ الْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ فَفَرَّقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَيْنَهُمَا وَقَضَى أَنْ لاَ يُدْعَى وَلَدُهَا لأَبٍ وَلاَ تُرْمَى وَلاَ يُرْمَى وَلَدُهَا وَمَنْ رَمَاهَا أَوْ رَمَى وَلَدَهَا فَعَلَيْهِ الْحَدُّ وَقَضَى أَنْ لاَ بَيْتَ لَهَا عَلَيْهِ وَلاَ قُوتَ مِنْ أَجْلِ أَنَّهُمَا يَتَفَرَّقَانِ مِنْ غَيْرِ طَلاَقٍ وَلاَ مُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا وَقَالَ إِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أُصَيْهِبَ أُرَيْصِحَ أُثَيْبِجَ حَمْشَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِهِلاَلٍ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَوْرَقَ جَعْدًا جُمَالِيًّا خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ سَابِغَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِلَّذِي رُمِيَتْ بِهِ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ أَوْرَقَ جَعْدًا جُمَالِيًّا خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ سَابِغَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَوْلاَ الأَيْمَانُ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ قَالَ عِكْرِمَةُ فَكَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَمِيرًا عَلَى مُضَرَ وَمَا يُدْعَى لأَبٍ  

"Hilal bin Umayyah went to the Prophet ﷺ and accused his wife of committing illegal sexual intercourse with Sharik bin Sahma. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Either you produce proof, or you will receive the legal punishment on your back.'" He said: "Hilal said: 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! If one of us saw a man over his wife, should he go and search for witnesses?' The Prophet ﷺ kept on saying: 'Either you produce proof, or you will receive the legal punishment on your back.'" He said: "Hilal then said, 'By Him Who sent you with the Truth and Allah will reveal to you what will save my back from the legal punishment.' Then (the following) was revealed: And for those who accuse their wives, but have not witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies by Allah that he is one of those who speak the truth (24:6-9). He recited it until he reached: 'And the fifth; should be that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he speaks the truth.' Then the Prophet ﷺ was saying: 'Allah knows that one of you is a liar, so, will either of you repent?' Then the woman got up and took the oaths, and when she was about to take the fifth one; That the wrath of Allah be upon her if he speaks the truth', the people stopped her and said to her: 'It will definitely bring about Allah's curse upon you (if you are guilty).'" Ibn 'Abbas said 'So she hesitated, and recoiled so much so, that we thought that she would withdraw her denial. But she said: 'I will not dishonor my family for the rest of their days.' The Prophet ﷺ then said: 'Watch her, if she delivers a child with eyes that appear to have Kuhl on them, big hips, and fat shins then it is Sharik bin Sahma's child.' (Later) she gave birth to a child fitting that description. So the Prophet ﷺ said: 'If it had not been settled in the Book of Allah [the Mighty and Sublime], I would punish her severely.'"  

أَنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ قَذَفَ امْرَأَتَهُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِشَرِيكِ بْنِ السَّحْمَاءِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْبِيِّنَةَ وَإِلاَّ حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ قَالَ فَقَالَ هِلاَلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُنَا رَجُلاً عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ أَيَلْتَمِسُ الْبَيِّنَةَ فَجَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ الْبَيِّنَةَ وَإِلاَّ حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ قَالَ فَقَالَ هِلاَلٌ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ وَلَيَنْزِلَنَّ فِي أَمْرِي مَا يُبَرِّئُ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْحَدِّ فَنَزَلَ (والَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ ) فَقَرَأَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ ( والْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ) قَالَ فَانْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمَا فَجَاءَا فَقَامَ هِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ فَشَهِدَ وَالنَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبٌ ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَشَهِدَتْ فَلَمَّا كَانَتْ عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ ( أنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ) قَالُوا لَهَا إِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَتَلَكَّأَتْ وَنَكَسَتْ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنْ سَتَرْجِعُ فَقَالَتْ لاَ أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَبْصِرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ سَابِغَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ بْنِ السَّحْمَاءِ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَوْلاَ مَا مَضَى مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ ﷻ لَكَانَ لَنَا وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ  

Hilal bin Umayyah accused his wife in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ of (committing adultery) with Sharik bin Sahma'. The Prophet said: "Bring proof or you will feel the Hadd (punishment) on your back." Hilal bin Umayyah said: "By the One Who sent you with the truth, I am telling the truth, and Allah will send down revelation concerning my situation which will spare my back." Then the following was revealed: "And for those who accuse their wives, but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies (i.e., testifies four times) by Allah that he is one of those who speak the truth. And the fifth (testimony should be) the invoking of the curse of Allah on him if he be of those who tell a lie (against her). But it shall avert the punishment (of stoning to death) from her, it she bears witness four times by Allah, that he (her husband) is telling a lie. And the fifth (testimony) should be that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth." The Prophet ﷺ, turned and sent for them, and they came. Hilal bin Umayyah stood up and bore witness, and the Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah knows that one of you is lying. Will either of you repent?" Then she stood up and affirmed her innocence. On the fifth time, meaning that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth, they said to her: "It will invoke the wrath of Allah." Ibn 'Abbas said: "She hesitated and backed up, until we thought that she was going to recant. Then she said: 'By Allah, I cannot dishonor my people for ever.' Then the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Wait and see. If she gives birth to a child with black eyes, fleshy buttocks and big calves, then he is the son of Sharik bin Sahma'.' And she gave birth to such a child. Then the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Had it not the matter been settled by the Book of Allah, I would have punished her severely.' "  

أَنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ قَذَفَ امْرَأَتَهُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْبَيِّنَةُ أَوْ حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ فَقَالَ هِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ وَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللَّهُ فِي أَمْرِي مَا يُبَرِّئُ ظَهْرِي قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ} حَتَّى بَلَغَ {وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ} فَانْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمَا فَجَاءَا فَقَامَ هِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ فَشَهِدَ وَالنَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْ تَائِبٍ ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَشَهِدَتْ فَلَمَّا كَانَ عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ {أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ} قَالُوا لَهَا إِنَّهَا الْمُوجِبَةُ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَتَلَكَّأَتْ وَنَكَصَتْ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهَا سَتَرْجِعُ فَقَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ سَابِغَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَوْلاَ مَا مَضَى مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ  

[Machine] When Hilal ibn Umayyah threw his wife, it was said to him, "By Allah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will whip you with eighty lashes." He said, "Allah is more just than that, to strike me with eighty lashes. He knew that I saw until I became certain, and I heard until I became convinced. No, by Allah, he will never strike me." Then the verse of curse was revealed, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called for both of them when the verse was revealed and he said, "Allah knows that one of you is lying. Is there any repentance from either of you?" Hilal said, "By Allah, I am telling the truth." Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Swear by Allah, the One who there is no god but Him, that you are telling the truth." He said that four times, and if he was lying, the curse of Allah would be upon him. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Stop at the fifth time, as it is binding." So, she swore and said it four times, "By Allah, the One who there is no god but Him, he is one of the liars." And if she was telling the truth, then the anger of Allah would be upon her. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Stop at the fifth time, as it is binding." Then she hesitated and was inclined to confess. Then she said, "I do not want to expose my people." So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "If she comes with it, it should be a black dye that darkens the eyes, with black pupils, thickly outlined, with lashes that curve upwards. Then it is for the one who was accused, Hilal ibn Umayyah. And if she comes with it in yellow color, then it should be cut with spots. Then it is for Hilal ibn Umayyah." So they brought it in the description of rebellion. Ayub said, and Muhammad ibn Sirin said, "The man who informed Hilal ibn Umayyah's wife was Shurayk ibn Sahma, who was the brother of Bara' ibn Malik, the brother of Anas ibn Malik from his mother. His mother was black. And Shurayk used to stay at Hilal's house and be with him."  

لَمَّا قَذَفَ هِلَالُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ امْرَأَتَهُ قِيلَ لَهُ وَاللَّهِ لَيَجْلِدَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً قَالَ اللَّهُ أَعْدَلُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَنْ يَضْرِبَنِي ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً وَقَدْ عَلِمَ أَنِّي رَأَيْتُ حَتَّىَ اسْتَيْقَنْتُ وَسَمِعْتُ حَتَّىَ اسْتَثْبَتُّ لَا وَاللَّهِ لَا يَضْرِبُنِي أَبَدًا فَنَزَلَتْ آيَةُ الْمُلَاعَنَةِ فَدَعَا بِهِمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِينَ نَزَلَتِ الْآيَةُ فَقَالَ «اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبٌ» فَقَالَ هِلَالٌ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ فَقَالَ «احْلِفْ بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ» يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ أَرْبَعَ مَرَّاتٍ فَإِنْ كُنْتُ كَاذِبًا فَعَلَيَّ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «قِفُوهُ عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ فَإِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ» فَحَلَفَتْ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ أَرْبَعًا وَاللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَإِنْ كَانَ صَادِقًا فَعَلَيْهَا غَضَبُ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «قِفُوهَا عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ فَإِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ فَرَدَّدَتْ وَهَمَّتْ بِالِاعْتِرَافِ» ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لَا أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «إِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ أَدْعَجَ سَابِغَ الْأَلْيَتَيْنِ أَلَفَّ الْفَخِذَيْنِ حَدْلَجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِلَّذِي رُمِيَتْ بِهِ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَصْفَرَ قَصِفًا سَبِطًا فَهُوَ لِهِلَالِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ» فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى الصِّفَةِ الْبَغِيِّ قَالَ أَيُّوبُ وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِيرِينَ «كَانَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي بَلَغَهَا هِلَالُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ شَرِيكَ بْنَ سَحْمَاءَ وَكَانَ أَخَا الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَخِي أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ لِأُمِّهِ وَكَانَتْ أُمُّهُ سَوْدَاءَ وَكَانَ شَرِيكٌ يَأْوِي إِلَى مَنْزِلِ هِلَالٍ وَيَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ»  

"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  

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