Book of Liʿān (Mutual Imprecation)

For the procedure to be valid it must be conducted between two spouses. Anyone who knows Arabic may not perform liʿān in another language; one who is ignorant of Arabic may do so in his own tongue.

When a husband accuses his wife of adultery, he may avert the ḥadd penalty by resorting to liʿān. Standing before her he says four times, “I testify by Allah that this wife of mine has indeed committed adultery,” pointing to her; if she is absent he states her name and lineage. On the fifth occasion he adds, “And may the curse of Allah be upon me if I am lying.”

She then says four times, “I testify by Allah that he is lying in the charge of adultery he has leveled against me,” and, on the fifth, “And may the wrath of Allah be upon me if he is telling the truth.”

If she initiates the liʿān before he does, or either of them leaves out anything¹ from the five prescribed phrases, or no judge—or his deputy—is present, or if the word ‘I testify’ is replaced with ‘I swear’ or ‘I take an oath,’ or the term ‘curse’ with ‘banishment,’ or ‘wrath’ with ‘anger,’ the liʿān is invalid.

Section

If a man slanders his minor or insane wife, he is subject to a taʿzīr punishment and no liʿān is carried out.

Another condition is that he accuse her verbally of adultery, saying, for example, “You have committed adultery,” “O adulteress,” or “I saw you committing adultery—vaginally or anally.” If, however, he says, “You were penetrated under a mistaken assumption, under coercion, or while asleep,” or says, “She did not commit adultery, but this child is not mine,” and a trustworthy woman testifies that the child was born on his bed, the child’s lineage is attributed to him and no liʿān is performed.