Is the testimony of a husband against his wife regarding zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) accepted?

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The questioner : Is the testimony of a husband against his wife regarding zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) accepted?

The Shaykh : The husband has another path with his wife; he does not need three witnesses. When this verse was revealed:

And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient,

والذين يرمون المحصنات ثم لم يأتوا بأربعة شهداء فاجلدوهم ثمانين جلدة ولا تقبلوا لهم شهادة أبدا وأولئك هم الفاسقون

[An-Nur 24:4]

Sa'd ibn Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Messenger of Allah, how is it that I find Laka' ibn Laka' with my wife, and I go around seeking four witnesses? By Allah, I would strike him with the sword, even if he were not wearing armor." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

Do you not marvel at Sa'd's jealousy? I am more jealous than Sa'd, and by Allah, I am more jealous than I am.

ألا تعجبون من غيرة سعد، إني لأغير من سعد، والله أغير مني

Then Allah revealed the verse concerning the matter of the husband. The husband has another solution: he himself accuses her of zina, and then he and she perform the mutual oath (li'an).

Source alathar.net

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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