Sunan Ibn Majah #1801
The Chapters on Divorce
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ حَسَّانَ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ، قَذَفَ امْرَأَتَهُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " الْبَيِّنَةُ أَوْ حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ " . فَقَالَ هِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ وَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللَّهُ فِي أَمْرِي مَا يُبَرِّئُ ظَهْرِي . قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ} . حَتَّى بَلَغَ {وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ} . فَانْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمَا فَجَاءَا فَقَامَ هِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ فَشَهِدَ وَالنَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْ تَائِبٍ " . ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَشَهِدَتْ فَلَمَّا كَانَ عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ {أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ} . قَالُوا لَهَا إِنَّهَا الْمُوجِبَةُ . قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَتَلَكَّأَتْ وَنَكَصَتْ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهَا سَتَرْجِعُ فَقَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ سَابِغَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ " . فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لَوْلاَ مَا مَضَى مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ " .
Hilal bin Umayyah accused his wife in the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ) of (committing adultery) with Sharik bin Sahma'. The Prophet said: "Bring proof or you will feel the Hadd (punishment) on your back." Hilal bin Umayyah said: "By the One Who sent you with the truth, I am telling the truth, and Allah will send down revelation concerning my situation which will spare my back." Then the following was revealed: "And for those who accuse their wives, but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies (i.e., testifies four times) by Allah that he is one of those who speak the truth. And the fifth (testimony should be) the invoking of the curse of Allah on him if he be of those who tell a lie (against her). But it shall avert the punishment (of stoning to death) from her, it she bears witness four times by Allah, that he (her husband) is telling a lie. And the fifth (testimony) should be that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth." The Prophet (ﷺ), turned and sent for them, and they came. Hilal bin Umayyah stood up and bore witness, and the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Allah knows that one of you is lying. Will either of you repent?" Then she stood up and affirmed her innocence. On the fifth time, meaning that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth, they said to her: "It will invoke the wrath of Allah." Ibn 'Abbas said: "She hesitated and backed up, until we thought that she was going to recant. Then she said: 'By Allah, I cannot dishonor my people for ever.' Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Wait and see. If she gives birth to a child with black eyes, fleshy buttocks and big calves, then he is the son of Sharik bin Sahma'.' And she gave birth to such a child. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Had it not the matter been settled by the Book of Allah, I would have punished her severely.' "
Narrated by It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that:
Context
This hadith recounts an incident where Hilal bin Umayyah accuses his wife of infidelity. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasizes the need for evidence in such serious accusations, stating that either proof must be provided or the accuser risks punishment. The subsequent revelation clarifies the process for dealing with accusations of adultery, highlighting the importance of justice and the seriousness of such claims.
Modern Application
In contemporary society, accusations can have severe consequences on relationships and reputations. This hadith underscores the importance of evidence and fairness in addressing allegations, encouraging individuals to seek truth and justice rather than jumping to conclusions.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Divine Revelation and Punishments (Hudud) because it illustrates the divine guidance provided in response to a serious social issue, establishing a framework for handling accusations in a just manner.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ النُّورِ
An-Noor (The Light)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَٰجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ شُهَدَآءُ إِلَّآ أَنفُسُهُمْ فَشَهَٰدَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَرْبَعُ شَهَٰدَٰتٍۭ بِٱللَّهِ ۙ إِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ
And those who accuse their wives [of adultery] and have no witnesses except themselves - then the witness of one of them [shall be] four testimonies [swearing] by Allah that indeed, he is of the truthful.
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَٱلَّٰتِى يَأْتِينَ ٱلْفَٰحِشَةَ مِن نِّسَآئِكُمْ فَٱسْتَشْهِدُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةًۭ مِّنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن شَهِدُوا۟ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلْبُيُوتِ حَتَّىٰ يَتَوَفَّىٰهُنَّ ٱلْمَوْتُ أَوْ يَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُنَّ سَبِيلًۭا
Those who commit unlawful sexual intercourse of your women - bring against them four [witnesses] from among you. And if they testify, confine the guilty women to houses until death takes them or Allah ordains for them [another] way.
سُورَةُ الأَحۡزَابِ
Al-Ahzaab (The Clans)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَٰنِسَآءَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ مَن يَأْتِ مِنكُنَّ بِفَٰحِشَةٍۢ مُّبَيِّنَةٍۢ يُضَٰعَفْ لَهَا ٱلْعَذَابُ ضِعْفَيْنِ ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًۭا
O wives of the Prophet, whoever of you should commit a clear immorality - for her the punishment would be doubled two fold, and ever is that, for Allah, easy.
سُورَةُ التَّحۡرِيمِ
At-Tahrim (The Prohibition)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَإِذْ أَسَرَّ ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِلَىٰ بَعْضِ أَزْوَٰجِهِۦ حَدِيثًۭا فَلَمَّا نَبَّأَتْ بِهِۦ وَأَظْهَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ عَرَّفَ بَعْضَهُۥ وَأَعْرَضَ عَنۢ بَعْضٍۢ ۖ فَلَمَّا نَبَّأَهَا بِهِۦ قَالَتْ مَنْ أَنۢبَأَكَ هَٰذَا ۖ قَالَ نَبَّأَنِىَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ
And [remember] when the Prophet confided to one of his wives a statement; and when she informed [another] of it and Allah showed it to him, he made known part of it and ignored a part. And when he informed her about it, she said, "Who told you this?" He said, "I was informed by the Knowing, the Acquainted."
سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ
Yusuf (Joseph)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَٱسْتَبَقَا ٱلْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرٍۢ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلْبَابِ ۚ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوٓءًا إِلَّآ أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ
And they both raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back, and they found her husband at the door. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife but that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment?"
Common Words
107 total93 unique10 repeated
من5x
ٱلله3x
إلا2x
أو2x
ٱلنبى2x
بعض2x
فلما2x
به2x
قالت2x
ٱلباب2x
وٱلذين1x
يرمون1x
أزوجهم1x
ولم1x
يكن1x
لهم1x
شهداء1x
أنفسهم1x
فشهدة1x
أحدهم1x
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About Sunan Ibn Majah
This hadith is #1801 from Sunan Ibn Majah, in the Book of The Chapters on Divorce. It is graded Da'if and narrated by It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that:.