Sunan an-Nasa'i 3473

Amr bin Ali and Muhammad bin al-Muthanna informed us; they said: Yahya bin Sa'id narrated to us; Abd al-Malik bin Abi Sulayman narrated to us: I heard Sa'id bin Jubayr say: During Ibn al-Zubayr's rule, I was asked whether a husband and wife who had performed li'an were to be separated. I did not know what to say, so I left where I was and went to Ibn Umar's home. I said, ‘Abu Abd al-Rahman, are the spouses who perform li'an separated?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ He exclaimed, ‘Glory be to Allah! The first person to ask about that was So-and-so son of So-and-so. He said, “Messenger of Allah, what do you think if a man among us sees his wife committing sexual misconduct? If he speaks, it is a terrible matter”—Amr's wording is, “he has done a terrible thing”—“and if he remains silent, he remains silent about something like that.”’ The Prophet did not answer him. Later, the man came to him and said, ‘The matter I asked you about has happened to me.’ Then Allah, Mighty and Sublime, revealed these verses in Surah al-Nur: ‘Those who accuse their wives …’ up to the words, ‘and the fifth [testimony] that Allah's anger be upon her if he is truthful.’ The Prophet began with the man, admonished and reminded him, and told him that the punishment of this world is easier than the punishment of the Hereafter. He said, ‘By the One who sent you with the truth, I did not lie.’ Then the Prophet turned to the woman, admonished and reminded her. She said, ‘By the One who sent you with the truth, he is lying.’ The man then testified four times by Allah that he was truthful, and the fifth time that Allah's curse would be upon him if he was lying. Then the woman testified four times by Allah that he was lying, and the fifth time that Allah's anger would be upon her if he was truthful. The Prophet separated them.’