Mukhtasar Muslim

Narrated from Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him): ‘Uwaymir ‘Ajlani came to ‘Asim bin ‘Adi Al-Ansari and said to him, “O ‘Asim! Suppose a man sees another man with his wife, should he kill him? (If he kills him,) will you then kill (that man) in retaliation, or what should he do? So, ask this matter for me from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).” ‘Asim (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), but he disliked such questions and expressed disapproval of them. What ‘Asim (may Allah be pleased with him) heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was hard on him. When he returned to his people, ‘Uwaymir came to him and asked, “O ‘Asim! What did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say?” ‘Asim (may Allah be pleased with him) said to ‘Uwaymir (may Allah be pleased with him), “You have not brought me anything good, for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) disliked your asking about this matter.” ‘Uwaymir (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “By Allah, I will not stop until I ask the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about this matter.” Then ‘Uwaymir (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in the presence of all the people (in the gathering) and said, “O Messenger of Allah! What do you say if a man sees another man with his wife, should he kill him? Then will you kill (that man) in retaliation, or what should he do?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Allah’s command has been revealed concerning you and your wife, so go and bring your wife.” Sayyiduna Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Then both husband and wife performed li‘an, and I was present with the people at the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When they finished, ‘Uwaymir said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! If I now keep this woman, then I am a liar.’ Then Sayyiduna ‘Uwaymir (may Allah be pleased with him) gave her three divorces before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered him (regarding this matter). Ibn Shihab said, ‘Then this became the established practice for those who perform li‘an.’”