68/28. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5307 — Repentance During the Oath of Lian
The man should start the process of Li'an.
Hadith About Lian and the Call to Repent Before Allah
Sahih Bukhari : 5307
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5307
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ حَسَّانَ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ، قَذَفَ امْرَأَتَهُ، فَجَاءَ فَشَهِدَ وَالنَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ، فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبٌ ". ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَشَهِدَتْ.
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Hilal bin Umaiyya accused his wife of illegal sexual intercourse and came to the Prophet (ﷺ) to bear witness (against her), (taking the oath of Lian). The Prophet (ﷺ) was saying, "Allah knows that either of you is a liar. Will anyone of you repent (to Allah)?" Then the lady got up and gave her witness.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5307In-book reference : Book 68, Hadith 56USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 63, Hadith 227
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5307
This hadith about Lian focuses on accountability before Allah. Hilal bin Umaiyya accused his wife and came to the Prophet to bear witness by taking the oath of Lian. While the process was happening, the Prophet kept saying that Allah knew one of the two was lying and asked whether either would repent. The woman then stood and gave her witness. The main point is not to guess which person was lying from this short text. The clear teaching is that even in a formal dispute, the door of repentance was raised before both people. For searches like hadith about Lian, Allah knows one of you is a liar, and repentance in Islam, this narration reminds readers that legal words are never hidden from Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Allah's knowledge is greater than each person's claim.
- The Prophet called both sides to repentance during Lian.
- The hadith warns against lying in a serious oath.
- The woman was also given her turn to testify.
