Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Yahya bin Saeed narrates that Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib said: Among the people of Syria, there was a man named Ibn Khaibri. He found a man with his wife, so he killed his wife or both of them. This matter was presented before Hazrat Muawiyah, and it became difficult for him to make a decision regarding it. He wrote a letter to Hazrat Abu Musa to ask Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) about this matter. Then Hazrat Abu Musa inquired from Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: Indeed, this matter has not occurred in our land. I adjure you to surely inform me about it. So Hazrat Abu Musa informed him about the matter. Then Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If he does not bring four witnesses, then you should hand him over completely.

Hazrat Muslima narrates that a man was brought before Hazrat Mus'ab who had found a man with his wife and killed him. Hazrat Mus'ab declared his blood to be wasted.

Hazrat Abu Asim narrates that Hazrat Sha’bi said: Two Ansari men were brothers; one of them was named Ash’ath. He went out for jihad with one of the Muslim armies. The wife of the brother who stayed behind said to him: “Is there a man with your brother’s wife? Can you do anything about it?” So the man who stayed behind climbed onto the roof and looked into his brother’s house. He saw a man with his brother’s wife on the bed, and the woman was skinning a chicken for him, and the man was reciting this poem:

Translation: “Islam deceived Ash’ath about me. I spent the night with his bride. I am spending the night embracing his wife while he is facing the calamity of death. The flesh of his wife’s body is like the cushions of a palanquin piled on top of each other.”

Hearing this, the brother jumped on him and struck him with a sword, killing him, and then threw him away. The murdered man was found in Medina in the morning, so Hazrat Umar said: “I swear by Allah, whoever has any knowledge about this matter must stand up.” The man stood up and informed him of the incident. Upon this, Hazrat Umar said: “This man is ruined and destroyed.”

Hazrat Ibn Jurayj says that I asked Hazrat Ata about a man who finds another man with his wife and kills him—will his blood be wasted? He replied: There will be no matter except with testimony. I asked: If testimony is given against that person that he committed adultery in my house? He replied: Even if testimony is given, there will be no ruling except with testimony; there will be no ruling except with testimony.

Hazrat Alqama narrates that Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood said: One night while we were in the mosque, suddenly a man came and said, "If a person finds a man with his wife and kills him, will you kill that person? Or if he accuses her, will you flog him?" I will surely mention this matter before the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). So when the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived, that man mentioned this matter before him, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remained silent. Meanwhile, the verse of Li'an was revealed. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) called that man and recited these verses to him. After that, the man came and accused his wife. So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) decided that both of them should perform Li'an, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is likely that this woman will bring forth a dark, small child." So indeed, the woman brought forth a dark, small child.

Hazrat Mughira narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) received news that Hazrat Sa’d bin Ubadah said: “If I find a man with my wife, I will strike him with the edge of the sword.” Upon this, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Are you amazed at Sa’d’s sense of honor? By Allah! I am more possessive than Sa’d, and Allah, the Lord of Honor, is more possessive than I am. And it is for this reason that Allah has forbidden indecent acts, whether they are open or hidden.”

Hazrat Malik bin Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Hazrat Hani bin Hizam said: A man found another man with his wife and killed him. This matter was written to Hazrat Umar, so Hazrat Umar wrote two letters regarding this: one public letter that the man should be killed, and one secret letter that blood money should be taken from him.