Musnad Abu Ya'la al-Mawsili 111:128

Zuhayr narrated to us, Yazid bin Harun narrated to us, 'Abbad bin Mansur informed us, from 'Ikrimah, from Ibn 'Abbas, who said: When "And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses, lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept their testimony ever, and those are the defiantly disobedient" (An-Nur: 4) was revealed, Sa'd bin 'Ubadah—and he was the leader of the Ansar—said: "Is this how it was revealed, O Messenger of Allah?" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "O assembly of the Ansar, do you not hear what your leader says?" They said: "O Messenger of Allah, do not blame him, for he is a jealous man. By Allah, he has never married a woman except a virgin, and he has never divorced a woman, for a man among us would dare to marry her due to the intensity of his jealousy." Sa'd said: "By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, I know that it is the truth and that it is from Allah, but I was amazed that if I found a woman with a man between her thighs, I would not be allowed to disturb him or move him until I brought four witnesses. By Allah, I would not bring them until he had finished his need." He said: They did not wait long before Hilal bin Umayyah came—and he was one of the three whose repentance was accepted. He came from his land in the evening 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 early to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, I came to my wife in the evening and found a man with her. I saw with my eyes and heard with my ears." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) disliked what he had brought and it was severe upon him. The Ansar gathered and said: "We have been afflicted by what Sa'd bin 'Ubadah said, unless the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) lashes Hilal bin Umayyah and invalidates his testimony among the Muslims." He (Hilal) said: "By Allah, by Allah, I hope that Allah will make for me a way out of this." Hilal said: "O Messenger of Allah, I see how severe what I have brought is upon you, and Allah knows that I am truthful." By Allah, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was about to order him to be lashed when the revelation descended upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). When the revelation descended upon him, they would recognize that by the darkening of his skin, so they refrained from him until he finished the revelation. Then "And those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves" (An-Nur: 6) was revealed, the entire verse. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was relieved and said: "Rejoice, O Hilal, for Allah has made for you a relief and a way out." Hilal said: "I was hoping for that from my Lord." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Send for her." So they sent for her and she came. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited it to her and reminded them both, and informed them that the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe than the punishment of the world. Hilal said: "By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, I have spoken the truth about her." She said: "He has lied." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Perform the *li'an* (oaths of condemnation) between them." He said to Hilal: "Testify." So he testified four testimonies by Allah that he was indeed among the truthful. When it was the fifth, it was said: "O Hilal, fear Allah, for the punishment of the world is easier than the punishment of the Hereafter, and this is the *mujiba* (the oath) that necessitates the punishment." He said: "By Allah, Allah will not punish me for it, just as He did not lash me for it." So he testified the fifth time that the curse of Allah be upon him if he was among the liars. Then it was said to her: "Testify." So she testified four testimonies by Allah that he was indeed among the liars. When it was the fifth, it was said to her: "Fear Allah, for the punishment of the world is easier than the punishment of the Hereafter, and this is the *mujiba* that necessitates the punishment upon you." She hesitated for a moment, then said: "By Allah, I will not disgrace my people." So she testified the fifth time that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he was among the truthful. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) separated them and decreed that her child should not be attributed to a father, nor should her child be accused. Whoever accuses her or accuses her child, the prescribed punishment (*hadd*) is upon him. He decreed that she has no right to housing or maintenance from him, because they are separated without divorce or death of a husband. He said: "If she brings him [the child] reddish-brown, dark-skinned, with thin legs, then he is for Hilal. And if she brings him pale, curly-haired, handsome, with thick legs and full buttocks, then he is for the one she was accused with." She brought him pale, curly-haired, handsome, with thick legs and full buttocks. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Were it not for the oaths, I would have had a matter with her." 'Ikrimah said: He was after that a governor in Egypt, and he was not attributed to a father.