27/37. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3468 — Hilal bin Umayyah and Li'an
Li'an Because Of The Man Accusing His Wife (Of Adultery) With A Specific Person
Hadith About Hilal bin Umayyah and the First Li'an
Sunan an-Nasai : 3468
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3468
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ سُئِلَ هِشَامٌ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ، يَقْذِفُ امْرَأَتَهُ فَحَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ عَنْ ذَلِكَ، وَأَنَا أَرَى، أَنَّ عِنْدَهُ، مِنْ ذَلِكَ عِلْمًا فَقَالَ إِنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ قَذَفَ امْرَأَتَهُ بِشَرِيكِ ابْنِ السَّحْمَاءِ - وَكَانَ أَخُو الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ لأُمِّهِ وَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ لاَعَنَ - فَلاَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَهُمَا ثُمَّ قَالَ " ابْصُرُوهُ فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَبْيَضَ سَبِطًا قَضِيءَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِهِلاَلِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ جَعْدًا أَحْمَشَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ ابْنِ السَّحْمَاءِ " . قَالَ فَأُنْبِئْتُ أَنَّهَا جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ جَعْدًا أَحْمَشَ السَّاقَيْنِ .
Muhammad Narrated from:
I asked Anas bin Malik about that, as I thought that he had knowledge of that. He said: 'Hilal bin Umayyah accused his wife (of committing adultery) with Sharik bin As-Sahma', who was the brother of Al-Bara' bin Malik through his mother. He was the first one who engaged in the procedure of Li'an.The Messenger of Allah conducted the procedure of Li'an between them, then he said: Look and see, if she produces a child who is white, with straight hair and Qadiy'a eyes, then he belongs to Hilal bin Umayyah, and if she produces a child who has dark lines around his eyes, curly hair and narrow calves, then he belongs to Sharik bin As-Sahma'." I was told that she produced a child who has dark lines around his eyes, curly hair and narrow calves.'"
[1] Ibn Al-Athîr ( An-Nihâyah ), Ibn Al-Manzûr ( Lisân Al-'Arab ), An-Nawawî ( Sharh Muslim ), As-Suyûṭî, and As-Sindî, and Aṣ-Ṣan'ânî, all said it means his eyes are bad, due to redness, being too small, or excessive tearing, or the like. See the definition in the text after No. 3499.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3468In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 80English translation : Vol. 4, Book 27, Hadith 3498
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3468
This hadith about Li'an records Anas bin Malik’s report about Hilal bin Umayyah accusing his wife with Sharik bin As-Sahma. Anas said Hilal was the first one who engaged in the procedure of Li'an. The Messenger of Allah conducted Li'an between them. Then the Prophet mentioned signs by which the child would resemble either Hilal or Sharik. The narrator was later told that the child matched the description connected to Sharik. The text is sensitive and should be read as a report of a legal case, not as a reason for loose accusations. The hadith shows that accusations involving marriage, lineage, and pregnancy were not left to personal action. They were handled by the Messenger of Allah through Li'an.
What we learn from this hadith
- Serious accusations in marriage were handled through a formal process.
- Hilal bin Umayyah is described here as the first to engage in Li'an.
- The Prophet conducted Li'an between the husband and wife.
- The narration connects the case to the child’s physical description.
