The Book of Invoking Curses

'Asim, what did Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say to you? 'Asim said to 'Uwaimir: You did not bring something good. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) did not like this religious verdict that I sought from him. 'Uwaimir said: By Allah, I will not rest until I have asked him about it. 'Uwaimir proceeded until he came to…

قَدْ نَزَلَ فِيكَ وَفِي صَاحِبَتِكَ فَاذْهَبْ فَأْتِ بِهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ سَهْلٌ فَتَلاَعَنَا وَأَنَا مَعَ النَّاسِ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا فَرَغَا قَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا يَا…

Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa‘d + 17 other versions

" And subsequebtly the separation became the practice of al-Mutala'inain." And this addition was also made:" She was pregnant and her son was ascribed to her, and it became customary that such (a son) would inherit her and she would inherit him in the share prescribed by Allah for her.

وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي سَهْلُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، أَنَّ عُوَيْمِرًا الأَنْصَارِيَّ، مِنْ بَنِي الْعَجْلاَنِ أَتَى…

Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa‘d

Allah's Messenger, tell me about the person who found a man with his wife. The remaining part of the hadith is the same (but) with this addition: They invoked curses in the mosque and I was present there. And he narrated in the hadith: He divorced her with three pronouncements before Allah's…

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، عَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ، وَعَنِ السُّنَّةِ، فِيهِمَا عَنْ حَدِيثِ، سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ أَخِي…

Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa‘d + 17 other versions

I was asked about the invokers of curses during the reign of Mus'ab (b. Zubair) whether they could separate (themselves by this process). He said: I did not understand what to say. So I went to the house of Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) in Mecca. I said to his servant: Seek permission for…

فَتَلاَهُنَّ عَلَيْهِ وَوَعَظَهُ وَذَكَّرَهُ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ قَالَ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا ‏.‏ ثُمَّ دَعَاهَا فَوَعَظَهَا…

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 7 other versions

A hadith like this is narrated by Ibn Numair with a slight variation of words.

وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ السَّعْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ، أَبِي سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَعِيدَ بْنَ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ سُئِلْتُ عَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ، زَمَنَ…

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

Your account is with Allah. One of you must be a liar. You have now no right over this woman. He said: Messenger of Allah, what about my wealth (dower that I paid her at the time of marriage)? He said: You have no claim to wealth. If you tell the truth, it (dower) is the recompense for your having…

لِلْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ ‏"‏ حِسَابُكُمَا عَلَى اللَّهِ أَحَدُكُمَا كَاذِبٌ لاَ سَبِيلَ لَكَ عَلَيْهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَالِي قَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ مَالَ لَكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ صَدَقْتَ عَلَيْهَا فَهْوَ بِمَا…

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 7 other versions

Allah knows that one of you is a liar. Is there one to repent among you?

فَرَّقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَ أَخَوَىْ بَنِي الْعَجْلاَنِ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبٌ ‏"‏ ‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 8 other versions

I asked Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) about invoking curse (li'an), and he narrated Similarly from Allah's Apostle (ﷺ).

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، سَمِعَ سَعِيدَ بْنَ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ عَنِ اللِّعَانِ، ‏.‏ فَذَكَرَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِثْلِهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

It was mentioned to 'Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with them) and he said: Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) effected separation between the two members of Banu al-'Ajlan.

فَرَّقَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَ أَخَوَىْ بَنِي الْعَجْلاَنِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 8 other versions

Nafi' reported on the authority of Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) that a person invoked curse on the wife during the lifetime of Allah s Messenger (ﷺ), so he effected separation between them and traced the lineage of the son to his mother.

فَفَرَّقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَهُمَا وَأَلْحَقَ الْوَلَدَ بِأُمِّهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 6 other versions

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked a person from the Anger and his wife to invoke curse (upon one another in order to testify to their truthfulness), and then effected separation between them.

لاَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ وَامْرَأَتِهِ وَفَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا ‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 13 other versions

A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of 'Ubaidulah with the same chain of transmitters.

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَعُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، - وَهُوَ الْقَطَّانُ - عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ ‏.‏

+ 13 other versions

We were on the night of Friday staying in the mosque when a person from the Ansar came there and said: If a person finds hiswoman along with a man, and he speaks about it, you would lash him, and if he kills, you will kill him, and if he keeps quiet he shall have to consume anger. By Allah, I will…

اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَجَعَلَ يَدْعُو فَنَزَلَتْ آيَةُ اللِّعَانِ ‏‏{‏ وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ‏}‏ هَذِهِ الآيَاتُ فَابْتُلِيَ بِهِ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلُ…

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd + 2 other versions

A hadith like this is narrated on the authority of A'mash.

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ، أَبِي شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ…

+ 2 other versions

Watch her, if she gives birth to a white-complexioned child having straight hair and sore eyes, he is the son of Hilāl ibn Umayyah, but if she gives birth to a child with eyes that appear to have antimony in them, curly hair, and thin shanks, then he is the son of Sharīk ibn Sahmā'

Hilāl ibn Umayyah accused his wife of committing adultery with Sharīk ibn Sahmā', the brother of Al-Barā ibn Mālik from the side of his mother. He was the first man who practiced Li‘ān in Islam. He swore oaths of Li‘ān against his wife, so the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be…

أَبْصِرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَبْيَضَ سَبِطًا قَضِيءَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِهِلاَلِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ جَعْدًا حَمْشَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ ابْنِ سَحْمَاءَ ‏"

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 3 other versions Explained

Mention was made of li'an in the presence of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). And Asim b. 'Adi passed a remark about it and then turned away, and a man of his tribe came to him complaining that he had found a man with his wife, whereupon 'Asim said: I have been taken by my words. He took him to Allah's…

اللَّهُمَّ بَيِّنْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَوَضَعَتْ شَبِيهًا بِالرَّجُلِ الَّذِي ذَكَرَ زَوْجُهَا أَنَّهُ وَجَدَهُ عِنْدَهَا فَلاَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَهُمَا

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 5 other versions

'With flesh, and curly tangled hair."

وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ الأَزْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي أُوَيْسٍ، حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ بِلاَلٍ - عَنْ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنِ…

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

Are these the two about whom Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said." If I were to stone one without evidence, I would have definitely stoned her"? Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) said: She is not this woman; but she is the one who (committed adultery) openly.

لَوْ كُنْتُ رَاجِمًا أَحَدًا بِغَيْرِ بَيِّنَةٍ لَرَجَمْتُهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ لاَ تِلْكَ امْرَأَةٌ أَعْلَنَتْ

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 5 other versions

Messenger of Allah, tell me if a man finds his wife with another person, should he kill him? Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: No. Sa'd said: Why not? I swear by Him Who has honored you with the Truth. There upon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Listen to what your chief says.

اسْمَعُوا إِلَى مَا يَقُولُ سَيِّدُكُمْ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 4 other versions

Messenger of Allah, if I were to find with my wife a man, should I wait until I bring four witnesses? He said: Yes.

إِنْ وَجَدْتُ مَعَ امْرَأَتِي رَجُلاً أَأُمْهِلُهُ حَتَّى آتِيَ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ قَالَ ‏"‏ نَعَمْ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 2 other versions

Messenger of Allah, if I were to find with my wife a man, should I not touch him before bringing four witnesses? Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Yes. He said: By no means. By Him Who has sent you with the Truth, I would hasten with my sword to him before that. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Listen to what…

اسْمَعُوا إِلَى مَا يَقُولُ سَيِّدُكُمْ إِنَّهُ لَغَيُورٌ وَأَنَا أَغْيَرُ مِنْهُ وَاللَّهُ أَغْيَرُ مِنِّي ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 4 other versions

Are you astonished at the jealousy of Sa‘d? I swear by Allah, I am more jealous than him, and Allah is more jealous than me. Because of His jealousy, Allah has prohibited immorality, the apparent and the hidden thereof

Al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Sa‘d ibn ‘Ubādah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "If I saw a man with my wife, I would strike him with my bare sword." That statement reached the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), who said: "Are…

أَتَعْجَبُونَ مِنْ غَيْرَةِ سَعْدٍ فَوَاللَّهِ لأَنَا أَغْيَرُ مِنْهُ وَاللَّهُ أَغْيَرُ مِنِّي مِنْ أَجْلِ غَيْرَةِ اللَّهِ حَرَّمَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَلاَ شَخْصَ أَغْيَرُ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَلاَ…

Narrated by Sa‘d ibn Ubāda Explained

A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority, of 'Abd al-Malik b. Umair with the same chain of narraters but with a slight change of words.

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ غَيْرَ مُصْفِحٍ ‏.‏ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ عَنْهُ…

+ 1 other version

There came a person to the Prophet (may peace he upon him) ) from Banu Fazara and said: My wife has given birth to a child who is black, whereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: Have you any camels? He said: Yes. He again said: What is this colour? He said: They are red. He said: Is there a dusky one…

هَلْ لَكَ مِنْ إِبِلٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَمَا أَلْوَانُهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ حُمْرٌ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ هَلْ فِيهَا مِنْ أَوْرَقَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لَوُرْقًا ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَأَنَّى أَتَاهَا ذَلِكَ ‏"‏…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 15 other versions

" Messenger of Allah, my wife has given birth to a dark-complexioned boy, and he at that time was intending to disown him." And this addition has been made at the end of the hadith:" He (the Holy Prophet) did not permit him to disown him."

وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالَ ابْنُ رَافِعٍ حَدَّثَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ…

+ 10 other versions

A desert Arab came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: My wife has given birth to a dark-complexioned child and I have disowned him. Thereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: Have you any camels? He said: Yes. He said: What is their colour? He said? They are red. He said: Is there anyone dusky among them?…

هَلْ لَكَ مِنْ إِبِلٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَا أَلْوَانُهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ حُمْرٌ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَهَلْ فِيهَا مِنْ أَوْرَقَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ فَأَنَّى…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 15 other versions

A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) through another chain of transmitters.

وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حُجَيْنٌ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، كَانَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 7 other versions