94/9. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7238 — Judgment Needs Proof
What uses of Al-Lau are allowed
وَقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: {لَوْ أَنَّ لِي بِكُمْ قُوَّةً} .
Li'an Hadith: Serious Judgment Requires Proof
Sahih Bukhari : 7238
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7238
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ ذَكَرَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ شَدَّادٍ أَهِيَ الَّتِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ كُنْتُ رَاجِمًا امْرَأَةً مِنْ غَيْرِ بَيِّنَةٍ ". قَالَ لاَ، تِلْكَ امْرَأَةٌ أَعْلَنَتْ.
al-Qasim ibn Muhammad Narrated from:
Ibn `Abbas mentioned the case of a couple on whom the judgment of Lian has been passed. `Abdullah bin Shaddad said, "Was that the lady in whose case the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If I were to stone a lady to death without a proof (against her)?' "Ibn `Abbas said, "No! That was concerned with a woman who though being a Muslim used to arouse suspicion by her outright misbehavior." (See Hadith No. 230, Vol.7)
[2] Li‘ān : See the glossary.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7238In-book reference : Book 94, Hadith 13USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 90, Hadith 344
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7238
This narration is about Li'an, proof, and careful judgment. A main search term for it is Li'an hadith proof, with related terms like stoning without evidence hadith, Ibn Abbas Li'an, and judgment in Islam. Al-Qasim reports that Ibn Abbas mentioned a couple upon whom the judgment of Li'an had been passed. Abdullah bin Shaddad asked whether it was the woman about whom the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “If I were to stone a lady to death without a proof.” Ibn Abbas said no. He explained that the other case concerned a woman who, while being Muslim, openly behaved in a way that caused suspicion. The key point in this text is that suspicion is not treated the same as proof, and Ibn Abbas carefully separated the two cases.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration separates a Li'an case from another case of open suspicious behavior.
- The Prophet's words point to the need for proof in serious judgment.
- Suspicion alone is not presented here as the same as clear proof.
- Ibn Abbas corrected a mistaken link between two different cases.
