Ibn `Abbas; said, "Once Lian was mentioned before the Prophet (ﷺ) whereupon `Asim bin Adi said something and went away. Then a man from his tribe came to him, complaining that he had found a man with his wife. `Asim said, 'I have not been put to task except for my statement (about Lian).' `Asim took the man to the Prophet (ﷺ) and the man told him of the state in which he had found his wife. The man was pale, thin, and of lank hair, while the other man whom he claimed he had seen with his wife, was brown, fat and had much flesh on his calves. The Prophet (ﷺ) invoked, saying, 'O Allah! Reveal the truth.' So that lady delivered a child resembling the man whom her husband had mentioned he had found her with. The Prophet (ﷺ) then made them carry out Lian." Then a man from that gathering asked Ibn `Abbas, "Was she the same lady regarding which the Prophet (ﷺ) had said, 'If I were to stone to death someone without witness, I would have stoned this lady'?" Ibn `Abbas said, "No, that was another lady who, though being a Muslim, used to arouse suspicion by her outright misbehavior. "
Commentary on the Case of Li'an (Mutual Cursing)
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 5310 presents a profound legal case concerning marital disputes and the Islamic procedure of Li'an. When a husband accuses his wife of adultery without producing four witnesses, Allah has prescribed the solemn oath procedure wherein both parties swear by Allah and invoke His curse upon themselves if they are lying.
The wisdom behind Li'an is to resolve marital disputes where evidence is lacking while maintaining the sanctity of marriage and protecting honor. The physical descriptions provided demonstrate the Prophet's meticulous attention to detail in judicial matters.
Divine Intervention and Physical Evidence
The Prophet's invocation "O Allah! Reveal the truth" and the subsequent birth of a child resembling the accused man demonstrates Allah's direct intervention in upholding justice. This miraculous revelation served as divine confirmation of the husband's claim.
Scholars note that while such clear physical evidence is rare, it reinforces the principle that Allah protects the Islamic judicial system and reveals truth when His servants seek it sincerely.
Distinction Between Two Cases
Ibn Abbas clarifies that this case is distinct from another where the Prophet mentioned stoning without witnesses. The other case involved a woman whose behavior consistently aroused suspicion, while this case required formal legal procedure.
This distinction highlights the precision of Islamic law - suspicion alone cannot justify punishment without proper evidence or legal procedure. The preservation of individual rights and avoidance of arbitrary punishment are fundamental principles in Shariah.
Legal Implications and Contemporary Relevance
This hadith establishes that Li'an remains valid even if circumstantial evidence emerges later. The procedure's completion demonstrates the finality of this Islamic legal mechanism for resolving marital disputes involving adultery accusations.
For contemporary Muslims, this narration teaches the importance of following proper Islamic legal procedures, seeking divine assistance in difficult matters, and maintaining trust in Allah's justice while upholding human dignity and rights.