68/32. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5311 — Repentance and Mahr After Lian
The Mahr in the case Li'an
Hadith About Lian, Repentance, and No Return of Mahr
Sahih Bukhari : 5311
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5311
حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ زُرَارَةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لاِبْنِ عُمَرَ رَجُلٌ قَذَفَ امْرَأَتَهُ فَقَالَ فَرَّقَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَ أَخَوَىْ بَنِي الْعَجْلاَنِ، وَقَالَ " اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ، فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبٌ ". فَأَبَيَا. وَقَالَ " اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ، فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبُ ". فَأَبَيَا. فَقَالَ " اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ، فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبٌ " فَأَبَيَا فَفَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا. قَالَ أَيُّوبُ فَقَالَ لِي عَمْرُو بْنُ دِينَارٍ إِنَّ فِي الْحَدِيثِ شَيْئًا لاَ أَرَاكَ تُحَدِّثُهُ قَالَ قَالَ الرَّجُلُ مَالِي قَالَ قِيلَ لاَ مَالَ لَكَ، إِنْ كُنْتَ صَادِقًا فَقَدْ دَخَلْتَ بِهَا، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ كَاذِبًا فَهْوَ أَبْعَدُ مِنْكَ.
Sa`id bin Jubair Narrated from:
I asked Ibn `Umar, "(What is the verdict if) a man accuses his wife of illegal sexual intercourse?" Ibn `Umar said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) separated (by divorce) the couple of Bani Al-Ajlan, and said, (to them), 'Allah knows that one of you two is a liar; so will one of you repent?' But both of them refused. He again said, 'Allah knows that one of you two is a liar; so will one of you repent?' But both of them refused. So he separated them by divorce."(Aiyub, a sub-narrator said: `Amr bin Dinar said to me, "There is something else in this Hadith which you have not mentioned. It goes thus: The man said, 'What about my money (i.e. the Mahr that I have given to my wife)?' It was said, 'You have no right to restore any money, for if you have spoken the truth (as regards the accusation), you have also consummated your marriage with her; and if you have told a lie, you are less rightful to have your money back.' ")
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5311In-book reference : Book 68, Hadith 60USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 63, Hadith 231
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5311
This hadith about Lian combines warning, repentance, separation, and property. Ibn Umar said that the Prophet separated the couple of Bani Al-Ajlan. He repeated that Allah knew one of them was lying and asked whether one of them would repent, but both refused. Then he separated them by divorce. The added part mentions that the man asked about his money, meaning the mahr, and it was said that he had no right to take it back. If he was truthful, he had already consummated the marriage; if he was lying, he was even less entitled to it. The core message is serious: a Lian oath is not only a legal statement; it is a matter watched by Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet repeated the call to repentance.
- Allah's knowledge was placed before both spouses.
- The couple was separated after refusing to repent.
- The man was not given the right to reclaim the mahr.
