وَٱلَّذِينَ يَرۡمُونَ أَزۡوَٰجَهُمۡ وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُمۡ شُهَدَآءُ إِلَّآ أَنفُسُهُمۡ فَشَهَٰدَةُ أَحَدِهِمۡ أَرۡبَعُ شَهَٰدَٰتٍۭ بِٱللَّهِ
Verse: "Those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves — the testimony of one of them is four testimonies by Allah." (24:6)
Occasion (Sahih — Agreed Upon): Al-Bukhari (4747) and Muslim (1492) narrated from Sahl ibn Sad: Uwaymir Al-Ajlani came to Asim ibn Adi and said: "What do you say about a man who found a man with his wife — if he kills him you will kill him, so what should he do?" Asim asked the Prophet. Then Uwaymir came himself and was told: "Quran has been revealed about you." They performed the mutual oath-calling (lian). Then Uwaymir said: "I would be lying about her if I kept her." He divorced her before the Prophet commanded the separation.
Reliability: Sahih — Agreed Upon, Al-Bukhari (4747) and Muslim (1492).
The lian ruling:
- The husband swears four oaths by Allah that he is truthful + fifth: Allah's curse upon him if he lies
- The wife swears four oaths by Allah that he lies + fifth: Allah's wrath upon her if he is truthful
- Lian causes permanent separation + removes the prescribed punishment from both
Lesson: Islam legislated a legal mechanism for the husband in the absence of witnesses — preserving the family from chaos and from injustice simultaneously.
Question: What is the legislative wisdom of the lian verses, and how do they balance the husband's right and the wife's right?
Answer: They preserve the husband's right: if he witnesses something that causes doubt without witnesses he is not left without a legal outlet. They preserve the wife's right: she is not punished by his mere claim but is given the opportunity to counter through lian. The balance: each bears the weight of lying if they proceed with it.