I asked Ibn `Umar about those who were involved in a case of Lien. He said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) said to those who were involved in a case of Lien, 'Your accounts are with Allah. One of you two is a liar, and you (the husband) have no right over her (she is divorced)." The man said, 'What about my property (Mahr) ?' The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'You have no right to get back your property. If you have told the truth about her then your property was for the consummation of your marriage with her; and if you told a lie about her, then you are less rightful to get your property back.' " Sufyan, a sub-narrator said: I learned the Hadith from `Amr. Narrated Aiyub: I heard Sa`id bin Jubair saying, "I asked Ibn `Umar, 'If a man (accuses his wife for an illegal sexual intercourse and) carries out the process of Lian (what will happen)?' Ibn `Umar set two of his fingers apart. (Sufyan set his index finger and middle finger apart.) Ibn `Umar said, 'The Prophet (ﷺ) separated the couple of Bani Al-Ajlan by divorce and said thrice, "Allah knows that one of you two is a liar; so will one of you repent (to Allah)?' "
Commentary on Liʿān (Mutual Cursing)
This narration from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (5312) concerns the grave matter of liʿān - the Islamic judicial process invoked when a husband accuses his wife of adultery without producing four witnesses. The Prophet (ﷺ) established that such an accusation necessitates either conclusive evidence or this solemn oath procedure before Allah.
The Divine Judgment in Liʿān
When the Prophet declared "Your accounts are with Allah. One of you two is a liar," he affirmed that while human courts can only adjudicate based on outward procedures, the ultimate truth resides with Allah alone. This demonstrates Islam's recognition of the limits of human judgment in matters of conscience.
The permanent separation mandated by the Prophet serves to prevent continued animosity and protect society from the corruption that would result from maintaining a marriage built upon such grave accusations.
The Wisdom Regarding the Mahr (Dowry)
The ruling that the husband cannot reclaim the mahr contains profound wisdom. If the husband spoke truthfully, the mahr was the legitimate price for the marriage contract that was lawfully consummated. If he lied, he deserves punishment rather than reward for his slander.
This ruling protects women from frivolous accusations, as men would be deterred by the financial consequence of losing the mahr regardless of the outcome.
The Separation of Bani Al-Ajlan
The Prophet's thrice-repeated question "Will one of you repent?" demonstrates Islam's emphasis on giving every opportunity for repentance before finalizing such serious matters. The separation by divorce becomes mandatory once the liʿān process is completed, as reconciliation becomes impossible after such grave allegations.
This entire procedure serves as a divine protection for both parties - protecting the wife from unsubstantiated slander while providing a husband without witnesses a means to clear himself through solemn oath before Allah.