It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه) said:
When the verse "And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever” [an-Noor 24:4) was revealed, Sa'd bin 'Ubadah, who was the leader of the Ansar, said: ls this how it was revealed, O Messenger of Allah? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "O Ansar, don't you hear what your leader is saying?" They said: O Messenger of Allah, do not blame him, for he is a man of protective jealousy; by Allah, he has never married any woman but a virgin and he never divorced any wife of his but no man among us would dare to marry her because of his strong protective jealousy. Sa'd said: By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, I know it is true and that it is from Allah, may He be exalted, but I was surprised that if I were to find this stupid woman with a man on top of her, I should not disturb him or make him move until I bring four witnesses; by Allah, I would not be able to bring them before he finishes what he is doing. A short while later, Hilal bin Umayyah, who was one of the three whose repentance was accepted, came back from his land at night and found a man with his wife, he saw with his own eyes and heard with his own ears, but he did not disturb him until morning came, then he went to the Messenger of Allah and said: O Messenger of Allah, I came to my wife last night and found a man with her; saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) disliked what he said and was very distressed. The Ansar gathered and said: Now we are facing the problem that Sa'd bin 'Ubadah expected; the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) will heat Hilal bin Umayyah and declare his testimony invalid among the Muslims. Hilal said By Allah, I hope that Allah will grant me a way out. Hilal said: O Messenger of Allah, I can see that you are very distressed because of what I told you, but Allah knows that I am telling the truth. By Allah, when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was about to order that he be beater, Revelation came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). When Revelation came to him, they could tell because his colour changed, so they left him alone until the Revelation was over, And this verse was revealed: “And for those who accuse their wives, but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies (i.e. testifies four times) by Allah that he is one of those who speak the truth" [an-Noor 24:6]. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recovered and said: Be of good cheer, O Hilal, for Allah has granted you a way out." Hilal said: I hoped for that from my Lord, may He be glorified and exalted. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Send for her." So they sent for her, and she came. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited the verse to them both, and reminded them of Allah, and told them that punishment in the Hereafter is more severe than punishment in this world. Hilal said: By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, I spoke the truth about her. She said: He is lying. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Invoke curses upon one another (li'an).” It was said to Hilal: Bear witness. He bore witness four times by Allah that he was one of those who speak the truth. And when it came to the fifth time, it was said: O Hilal, fear Allah, for punishment in this world is easier to bear than punishment in the Hereafter, and this is the one that will incur the punishment for you. He said: By Allah, Allah will not punish me for it, just as He did not cause me to be flogged for it. And the fifth time he bore witness that the curse of Allah should be upon him if he was one of those who tell a lie. Then it was said to her Bear witness four times by Allah that he is one of those who tell a lie. And when it caine to the fifth time, it was said to her: Fear Allah, for punishment in this world is easier to bear than punishment in the Hereafter, and this is the one that will incur the punishment for you. She hesitated for a while, then she said: By Allah, I shall not bring disgrace upon my people. And she bore witness the fifth time that the wrath of Allah should be upon her if he was one of those who speak the truth. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) separated them and ruled that her child should not be named after any father; she was not to be accused (of adultery) and he (the child) was not to be accused (of being illegitimate), and anyone who accused her or her child would be subjected to the hadd punishment, And he ruled that she had no right to accommodation or maintenance (food) from him, because they had been separated by means of something other than falaq (divorce) and he had not died and left her a widow, And he said: "If she gives birth to a child with a reddish complexion, small buttocks and thin legs, then he is the child of Hilal, and if she gives birth to a child with dark skin, curly hair, a heavy frame, thick legs and large buttocks, then he is the child of the one with whom she was accused of committing adultery.” And she gave birth to a child with dark skin, curly hair, a heavy frame, thick legs and large buttocks. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Were it not for the oaths, I would have something to settle with her.” ‘Ikrimah said: After that, he became the governor of a city. He was named after his mother, and not after any father.
