The Prophet (ﷺ) made a man and his wife carry out Lian, and the husband repudiated her child. So the Prophet got them separated (by divorce) and decided that the child belonged to the mother only.
Sahih al-Bukhari - Book of Divorce
Hadith Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5315
Textual Analysis
This narration concerns the Islamic legal procedure of Li'an (mutual imprecation), which occurs when a husband accuses his wife of adultery without producing four witnesses. The Prophet (ﷺ) administered the solemn oaths prescribed in Surah an-Nur (24:6-9), resulting in the couple's mandatory separation.
Legal Rulings
The husband's denial of paternity during Li'an automatically severs the marital bond permanently - the couple cannot remarry. The child is attributed solely to the mother, as established by the Prophet's judgment. This ruling protects the child from illegitimacy while upholding the principle that Li'an creates reasonable doubt about paternity.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars emphasize that Li'an serves as both a protective measure for wives against false accusations and a means to resolve marital disputes where adultery is suspected but unproven. The mother retains custody rights, and the child inherits from her and her relatives. This ruling demonstrates Islam's balanced approach to preserving lineage while protecting women's honor.