Li'ân - Allegation of Adultery

When the husband accuses his wife of adultery or rejects a particular child as being his own child, then both the husband and wife have to go to a Shar'î judge. The judge will ask both of them to take an oath. First, the husband will take the following oath: "I make Allah my witness and say that I am speaking the truth with regard to the act for which I have accused her." He should take this oath four times. The fifth time he must say: "If I am lying, may Allah's curse descend upon me."

When the husband completes this, the wife must say the following four times: "I make Allah my witness and say that he is lying with regard to the act for which he is accusing me of." The fifth time she must say: "If he is truthful in this accusation, may the wrath of Allah descend upon me."

Once both of them take this oath, the judge will separate them and one t alâqul bâ'in will take place. The child will not be attributed to this husband, but will be given in the care of the mother. In the Sharî‘ah , this oath and counter-oath is known as li'ân .