An Ansari man accused his wife (of committing illegal sexual intercourse). The Prophet (ﷺ) made both of them takes the oath of Lian, and separated them from each other (by divorce).
Li'an: The Oath of Condemnation
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 5306 concerns the Islamic legal procedure known as Li'an, invoked when a husband accuses his wife of adultery without producing four witnesses. The Prophet (ﷺ) administered this solemn oath to both spouses, resulting in their permanent separation.
Legal Foundation and Procedure
Li'an is established in Surah An-Nur (24:6-9), where Allah prescribes the method for such accusations. The husband must swear four times by Allah that he is truthful, followed by a fifth oath invoking Allah's curse upon himself if he lies.
The wife may then avert punishment by similarly swearing four times by Allah that her husband is lying, with a fifth oath invoking Allah's wrath upon herself if he is truthful.
Consequences of Li'an
As demonstrated in this hadith from the Book of Divorce, the primary consequence is immediate and irrevocable separation. The marriage is dissolved permanently, and reconciliation becomes forbidden.
Neither spouse can inherit from the other, and the child born from such a union is attributed to the mother, protecting the child's lineage and rights.
Divine Wisdom in Li'an
This procedure preserves social order by providing a dignified resolution to grave accusations while preventing false allegations. It respects the sanctity of marriage while acknowledging human frailties, offering a middle path between ignoring serious accusations and requiring unattainable evidence.