What is the meaning of Allah’s words: "And those who accuse their wives of adultery but have no witness except themselves..."?
ما معنى قوله تعالى: "وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلَّا أَنفُسُهُمْ..." وما الذي ترشد إليه الآية؟
The process of Al Li'an provides a legal and spiritual resolution to one of the most difficult marital dilemmas, protecting the honor and physical safety of both spouses when trust is completely shattered.
توفر عملية اللعان حلا قانونيا وروحيا لواحدة من أصعب المعضلات الزوجية، حيث تحمي الشرف والسلامة الجسدية لكلا الزوجين عندما تنعدم الثقة تماما.
The Process of Mutual Oath (Al Li'an) | صفة اللعان وأحكامه
1. The Exception for Husbands
It is forbidden for a Muslim to accuse another Muslim of adultery (Qadhf) unless he has witnesses. However, the husband does not need four witnesses to testify against his wife if he catches her committing adultery or wants to deny the paternity of a child. His testimony process is called Li'an.
1. الاستثناء الخاص بالزوج
معلوم تحريم اتهام المسلم غيره بالزنا، وهو الذي يسمى القذف، ولا يجوز ذلك إلا بشهداء. أما قذف الرجل لزوجته فلا يشترط له وجود أربعة شهداء؛ لأنه يقصد نفي نسبة الولد له، والحكم حينئذ يسمى "اللعان" أو الملاعنة.
2. The Husband's Oath
Al Li'an is performed before a judge. The husband must swear by Allah four times that he is telling the truth, and make a fifth oath that the curse of Allah falls on him if he is lying about his accusation.
2. شهادة الزوج
صفة اللعان: أن يشهد الزوج على زوجته عند القاضي فيقول: أشهد بالله لقد رأيتها تزني أو هذا الولد ليس لي، يشهد أربع مرات. وفي المرة الخامسة يقول: لعنة الله عليه إن كان من الكاذبين.
3. The Wife's Oath
The judge then offers the wife a choice: she can either acknowledge the accusation (which brings the punishment of adultery upon her), or she swears four times by Allah that she did not commit adultery, and a fifth oath invoking the wrath of Allah upon herself if her husband is telling the truth.
3. شهادة الزوجة
يعرض القاضي على الزوجة أن تقر بما رماها به زوجها ويقام عليها الحد، أو تشهد أربع شهادات بالله أنها ما زنت، وفي الشهادة الخامسة تدعو المرأة على نفسها بغضب الله إن كان زوجها صادقا فيما يقول.
4. Permanent Separation
Based on this mutual swearing, the couple is separated. The man has no right to marry this woman ever again. It is forbidden for him to marry her permanently, whether she marries another or not.
4. التفريق الأبدي
وبناء على هذه الملاعنة يفرق بين الزوجين ولا يحق للرجل التزوج من هذه المرأة بل تحرم عليه على التأبيد سواء نكحت غيره أم لم تنكح.
The Quranic Revelation | الآيات القرآنية
(And those who accuse their wives of adultery but have no witnesses except themselves, the accuser must testify, swearing four times by Allah that he is telling the truth and a fifth oath that Allah may condemn him if he is lying. For her to be spared the punishment, she must swear four times by Allah that he is telling a lie, and a fifth oath that Allah may be displeased with her if he is telling the truth.) Surah An Nur 24: 6 to 10.
(وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلَّا أَنفُسُهُمْ فَشَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَرْبَعُ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ ۙ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ﴿٦﴾ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ﴿٧﴾ وَيَدْرَأُ عَنْهَا الْعَذَابَ أَن تَشْهَدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ ۙ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ﴿٨﴾ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ﴿٩﴾ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ حَكِيمٌ) النور 24: 6 إلى 10.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Can a couple remarry each other after performing Al Li'an?
No. Once the mutual oaths of Al Li'an are completed before a judge, the couple is permanently and eternally forbidden to each other. They can never remarry, even if they later regret it or if she marries and divorces someone else.
What happens if the wife refuses to take the oath?
If the husband completes his five oaths and the wife refuses to take her five oaths to defend herself, it is treated as a confession of guilt in an Islamic court, and she becomes subject to the legal penalty for adultery.
Does Al Li'an apply to anyone other than a husband and wife?
No, this specific process is strictly limited to spouses. If any other person accuses someone of adultery without four witnesses, they cannot use Al Li'an and will be punished for slander (Qadhf).