MCQ Detailed View

LEA’AN is a legal provision in Islamic law that addresses a situation where a husband accuses his wife of adultery but cannot provide the required four witnesses to support the claim. In such a case, both spouses take a series of solemn oaths before Allah (SWT) in the presence of a judge. The process is derived from the Qur’an, specifically Surah An-Nur (24:6–9).

In LEA’AN, the husband swears four times that he is telling the truth about his accusation, followed by a fifth oath invoking the curse of Allah upon himself if he is lying. The wife, in turn, can defend herself by swearing four times that her husband’s claim is false, and on the fifth oath, she invokes the wrath of Allah upon herself if she is lying.

This provision serves two key purposes: to protect the honor of the innocent and to provide a lawful way to resolve serious marital disputes without the need for unlawful evidence or gossip. If the process of LEA’AN is completed, the marriage is dissolved immediately and permanently, and reconciliation is not permitted.

Key Facts:

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  LEA’AN is a Shariah clause concerning accusations of adultery between spouses.

  
  


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  Found in Surah An-Nur (24:6–9) in the Qur’an.

  
  


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  Requires four oaths and a fifth oath with invocation from each spouse.

  
  


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  Marriage ends permanently after LEA’AN; reconciliation is not allowed.

  
  


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  Designed to protect dignity and prevent false accusations.

  
  


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  No punishment for adultery is enforced if LEA’AN is completed, but the marital bond is broken.