A man who accuses his wife of adultery then retracts: may she stay with him, or must she take him to the ruler?

Al-Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If a man accuses his wife of fornication and then retracts his statement, there is no room for the woman to stay with this man; she should take the matter to the judge, and then either the hadd punishment will be applied to the man or li'an will take place.

Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If he retracts his statement before a group of people, the two may live together, and the man should seek forgiveness from Allah and resolve not to do it again.

Al-Sha'bi said: If a man accuses his wife of fornication, then if he wishes he may retract his statement; the hadd punishment for false accusation (qadhf) will be carried out on him, and the woman will remain his wife.

Al-Sha'bi said concerning a man who accuses his wife of fornication and the matter is not brought before the judge's court: he should retract his statement, and the marriage will remain in place.