 |
| (Illustration Only) |
Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه, the Companion whose name is immortalized twice in the Qur'an.
Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه full name was Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنهh Waqfi. Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه belonged to the Bani Waqif clan of the Aus tribe of the Ansar. Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه father's name was Umayyah bin Amir and his mother's name was Unaisah bint Hidam, who was the sister of Kulthum رضي الله عنه bin Hidam. Kulthum رضي الله عنه bin Hidam is the companion whose house in Quba Rasulullahﷺ stayed upon his migration to Madinah.Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه,
We find references to two marriages of Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه; one with Furay'ah (ra) bint Malik bint Dukhsham and the other with Mulaikah bint Abdullah رضي الله عنه. Both wives of Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه had the honor of accepting Islam at the hands of Rasulullahﷺ.
Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه was among the earliest converts to Islam. Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه destroyed the idols of the tribe of Banu Waqif and was the flag bearer of his people on the day of the Victory of Makkah.
Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه had the honor of participating in the battles of Badr, Uhud, and other later battles along with Rasulullahﷺ. However, Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه was unable to participate in the Battle of Tabuk. Ibn Hisham has not included the name of Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه among the list of the Badri companions, he has given in his book. However, Bukhari has included him among the Badri companions in his Sahih al-Bukhari.
Once upon a time, Rasulullahﷺ came to Hilal bin Umayyah who complained that his wife had committed adultery with someone named Syarik bin Syahma. After hearing the complaint, Rasulullahﷺ firmly said, "Can you bring witnesses (a total of four people)? If not, you will get Had (lashing) on your back!!"
Then Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه said with objection "O Messenger of Allah, when one of us sees a man on top of his wife, should we look for a witness?".
However, Rasulullahﷺ insisted that it was what Allahﷻ commanded. At that very moment, Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه said, "By the One who sent you truthfully, indeed I am truthful, and Allahﷻ will send down something that will free my back from the Hadd...".
A few moments after that, Jibril AS came down carrying the words of Allahﷻ namely Surah an-Nur verses 6-9. Rasulullahﷺ then sent a messenger to bring Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه and his wife.
Rasulullahﷺ explained the verse that had just been revealed concerning the two of them. Then Rasulullahﷺ said, "Indeed, Allahﷻ knows that one of you is lying. Will there be any of you who will repent...".
Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه then testified and swore about his truth four times. While the fifth oath is that the curse of Allahﷻ will descend upon him if he is indeed lying.
This time it was his wife who stood up and swore, but when she was about to swear for the fifth time, she hesitated until people thought she would change her mind and repent. But he resumed his oath and said, "I have not revealed the shame of my people all day...".
Thus, after swearing up five times, Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه was freed from punishment for accusing his wife of adultery without four witnesses who saw the act. Likewise with his wife, by swearing five times, he was also freed from the penalty of stoning to death, even though it is possible that she had really committed adultery.
So in the end it is up to Allahﷻ. Will Allahﷻ send down a curse on him according to the fifth oath he made, or will Allahﷻ open another path of repentance for him?
A moment later, Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه's wife left Rasulullahﷺ. And Rasulullahﷺ said, "Watch Hilal's wife, if she gives birth to a child with black eyes, a big ass, and two calves, then that child is for Syarik bin Sahma (meaning, Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه 's wife really committed adultery)".
Until finally the woman gave birth as described by Rasulullahﷺ and he said, "Had it not been for something that had passed in the Kitabullah Ta'ala (that is, the provision of swearing up to five times), there would have been an affair between me and that woman (that is, Hilal's wife will be stoned)".
After the event, Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه asked Rasulullahﷺ for permission to divorce his wife. Then Rasulullahﷺ allowed it.
The figure of Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه is one of the three companions left behind from the Tabuk war, who confessed his sins. His repentance was delayed for 50 days until Allahﷻ forgave him with:
لَّقَد تَّابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ فِى سَاعَةِ ٱلْعُسْرَةِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ١١٧
Indeed, Allah has accepted the repentance of the Prophet and the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him (struggled) in a time of difficulty, after the hearts of a group of them almost deviated (from following the Prophet to fight); then God accepts their repentance; Indeed, God is Most Merciful and Most Merciful to them.
Surah Taubah verses 117
وَعَلَى ٱلثَّلَـٰثَةِ ٱلَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَن لَّا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّآ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ١١٨
And (Allah also accepted the repentance) of three people who were delayed (acceptance of their repentance) until this wide earth (felt) narrow to them (because they were ostracized), and their hearts became narrow (because of bearing sorrow), and they were sure that there is no place for them to flee from (the wrath of) God but (return to repent) to Him; then Allah (gives taufiq as well as) accepts their repentance so that they remain repentant. Indeed, Allah is the Acceptor of repentance and the Most Merciful.
Surah Taubah verses 118.
While the other two people were, Ka'ab bin Malikرضي الله عنه and Murarah bin Rabi'رضي الله عنه.
After 40 days of being isolated from the company of other Muslims, Rasulullahﷺ ordered that Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه stay away from his wife (but not divorce her). Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه wife, whom he married after divorcing his previous wife whom he accused of adultery, came to Rasulullahﷺ and asked for permission to continue caring for Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه because she was old and weak, and did not have an assistant.
Rasulullahﷺ then allowed it but on the condition that he did not 'gather'. The wife then guaranteed that it would not happen because Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه's days since she was left behind in the Tabuk war were only spent crying and regretting endlessly.
Hadith Narrated by Hilal bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه
Hadith: Hilāl ibn Umayyah رضي الله عنه. went to Rasulullahﷺ and accused his wife of committing illegal sexual intercourse with Sharīk ibn Sahmā'. Rasulullahﷺ said: Either you provide proof, or you will receive the legal punishment on your back
Sahih/Authentic. - [Al-Bukhari and Muslim. This is the wording of Al-Bukhari]
Ibn ‘Abbās رضي الله عنه reported that Hilāl ibn Umayyah went to Rasulullahﷺ and accused his wife of committing illegal sexual intercourse with Sharīk ibn Sahmā'. Rasulullahﷺ said: "Either you provide proof, or you will receive the legal punishment on your back." Hilāl said: "O Messenger of Allah if one of us saw a man on top of his wife, should he go and look for witnesses?" Rasulullahﷺ kept saying: "Either you provide proof, or you will receive the legal punishment on your back." Hilāl then said: "By the One Who sent you with the Truth, I am truthful, and Allah will reveal to you what will save my back from the legal punishment." Then (the following) was revealed: {And for those who accuse their wives...}
[Sūrat An-Nūr: 24:6]
[Sūrat An-Nūr: 24:9]
He kept reciting until he reached: {...if he was of the truthful.}
Then Rasulullahﷺ left and had her summoned. So Hilāl came and took an oath. So Rasulullahﷺ was saying: "Allah knows that one of you is a liar, so, will either of you repent?" Then the woman got up and took the oaths, and when she was about to take the fifth one, the people stopped her and said to her: "It will definitely bring about Allah's curse upon you (if you are guilty)." So she hesitated and recoiled so much that we thought that she would withdraw her denial. But she said: "I will not dishonor my family for the rest of their days." Rasulullahﷺ then said: "Watch her, if she delivers a child with eyes that appear to have kohl on them, big bottoms, and fat shins, then it is Sharīk ibn Sahmā's child." (Later) She gave birth to a child fitting that description. So Rasulullahﷺ said: "If it had not been settled in the Book of Allah, there would have been a matter between me and her."
Explanation
This Hadīth indicates that Hilāl ibn Umayyah رضي الله عنه
This Hadīth indicates that Hilāl ibn Umayyah رضي الله عنه accused his wife of committing adultery with Sharīk ibn Sahmā'. Therefore, Rasulullahﷺ asked Hilāl to bring proof, and otherwise, he would receive the prescribed punishment for false accusations, which consists of flogging one's back. Hilāl wondered if a man should see his wife committing adultery with a man and go find witnesses! However, Rasulullahﷺ insisted on providing the proof, and otherwise, the relevant punishment would be applied against the accuser. Abu Ya‘la reported in his Musnad on the authority of Anas ibn Mālik that Rasulullahﷺ asked Hilāl to bring four witnesses or else he would apply the prescribed punishment against him. On that, Hilāl swore by Allah, Who sent Rasulullahﷺ with the truth, that he was saying the truth about his wife's adultery with Sharīk, and prayed that Allah would reveal something that would exonerate him from the punishment. So Jibrīl came down with revelation: {And for those who accuse their wives...}
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَٰجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ شُهَدَآءُ إِلَّآ أَنفُسُهُمْ فَشَهَـٰدَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَرْبَعُ شَهَـٰدَٰتٍۭ بِٱللَّهِ ۙ إِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
And those who accuse their wives ˹of adultery˺ but have no witnesses except themselves, the accuser must testify,1 swearing four times by Allah that he is telling the truth,
[Sūrat An-Nūr: 6]
وَٱلْخَـٰمِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
٧
and a fifth oath that Allah may condemn him if he is lying.
[ Sūrat An-Nūr: 7].
وَيَدْرَؤُا۟ عَنْهَا ٱلْعَذَابَ أَن تَشْهَدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَـٰدَٰتٍۭ بِٱللَّهِ ۙ إِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
For her to be spared the punishment, she must swear four times by Allah that he is telling a lie,
[ Sūrat An-Nūr: 8].
وَٱلْخَـٰمِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
and a fifth oath that Allah may be displeased with her if he is telling the truth.
[ Sūrat An-Nūr: 9].
He recited it until he reached: {...if he was of the truthful}, Hilāl came forward and gave his testimony. Rasulullahﷺ said that Allah knew that one of the spouses was lying and wondered if either of them would repent. It seems that Rasulullahﷺ said that after they finished taking their oaths of repudiation. Based on this, the one who lies has to repent. Alternatively, he said that before they took the oaths so as to warn them. The woman also testified. When she was ready to take the fifth oath, the people prevented her from proceeding.
They told her that this fifth oath was consequential, for it would remove her from Allah's mercy and incur the torment in the Hereafter upon her if she was not saying the truth. So, as Ibn ‘Abbās رضي الله عنه said: she slowed down, stopped, and drew back, meaning that she kept silent after the fourth oath. People thought that she would recant her falsification of her husband's charge and exoneration herself. She noted that she would not bring shame upon her family for the rest of the time by revoking her oath and crediting her husband.
Therefore, she took the fifth oath of repudiation. Rasulullahﷺ asked the people to check the child that would be born: if he had dark eyelashes as if he had kohl on them, big buttocks, and fat shins, then the boy was the son of Sharīk ibn Sahmā'. The resemblance is good proof in cases other than repudiation. Rasulullahﷺ remarked that if it were not the divine judgment that the punishment is inapplicable if the repudiation oaths are taken, he would apply the punishment against the woman.
He wanted to make her case a lesson to be learned. That was the first case of Li‘ān in Islam, and verses of the Qur’an were sent down concerning it accused his wife of committing adultery with Sharīk ibn Sahmā'. Therefore, Rasulullahﷺ asked Hilāl to bring proof, and otherwise, he would receive the prescribed punishment for false accusations, which consists of flogging one's back. Hilāl wondered if a man should see his wife committing adultery with a man and go find witnesses! However, Rasulullahﷺ insisted on providing the proof, and otherwise, the relevant punishment would be applied against the accuser. Abu Ya‘laرضي الله عنه reports in his Musnad on the authority of Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه that Rasulullahﷺ asked Hilāl to bring four witnesses or else he would apply the prescribed punishment against him. On that, Hilāl swore by Allah, Who sent Rasulullahﷺ with the truth, that he was saying the truth about his wife's adultery with Sharīk, and prayed that Allah would reveal something that would exonerate him from the punishment. So Jibrīl came down with revelation:
{And for those who accuse their wives...}
[Sūrat An-Nūr: 6]
[Sūrat An-Nūr: 9]
He recited it until he reached: {...if he was of the truthful}. Hilāl came forward and gave his testimony. Rasulullahﷺ said that Allah knew that one of the spouses was lying and wondered if either of them would repent. It seems that Rasulullahﷺ said that after they finished taking their oaths of repudiation. Based on this, the one who lies has to repent. Alternatively, he said that before they took the oaths so as to warn them. The woman also testified. When she was ready to take the fifth oath, the people prevented her from proceeding. They told her that this fifth oath was consequential, for it would remove her from Allah's mercy and incur the torment in the Hereafter upon her if she was not saying the truth.
So, as Ibn ‘Abbās رضي الله عنه said: she slowed down, stopped, and drew back, meaning that she kept silent after the fourth oath. People thought that she would recant her falsification of her husband's charge and exoneration herself. She noted that she would not bring shame upon her family for the rest of the time by revoking her oath and crediting her husband. Therefore, she took the fifth oath of repudiation. Rasulullahﷺ asked the people to check the child that would be born: if he had dark eyelashes as if he had kohl on them, big buttocks, and fat shins, then the boy was the son of Sharīk ibn Sahmā'. The resemblance is good proof in cases other than repudiation. Rasulullahﷺ remarked that if it were not the divine judgment that the punishment is inapplicable if the repudiation oaths are taken, he would apply the punishment against the woman. He wanted to make her case a lesson to be learned. That was the first case of Li‘ān in Islam, and verses of the Qur’an were sent down concerning it
(Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003) (Ma'rifatus Sahabah, Vol. 4, p. 383, Hadith 2995 , Hilal bin Umayyah, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2002)
