Sayyiduna Saeed bin Jubair (may Allah have mercy on him) says that during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubair, someone asked me this question: If there has been li'an between a man and a woman, should separation be made between them (or does it happen automatically)? I could not think of an answer, so I got up from my place and went to the house of Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) and said to him, "O Abu Abdur Rahman! Should separation be made between those who perform li'an?" Upon hearing my question, he said, "Subhan Allah," and said: "The first person to ask about li'an was so-and-so son of so-and-so. He said, 'O Messenger of Allah! Tell me, if a man sees his wife committing adultery, if he speaks, he says a great thing, and if he remains silent, he remains silent over such a great matter?' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remained silent instead of answering his question. After a short while, that man again came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, 'I have been afflicted with the matter I asked you about.' Upon this, Allah revealed these verses of Surah An-Nur «والذين يرمون ازواجهم . . . . . . ان كان من الصدقين» . The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), in accordance with these verses, started the li'an with the man, admonished and advised him, and said, 'The punishment of this world is lighter than the punishment of the Hereafter.' He said, 'By the One Who sent you with the truth, I am not lying to you.' Secondly, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called the woman, admonished and advised her, and said, 'The punishment of this world is lighter than the punishment of the Hereafter.' She said, 'By the One Who sent you with the truth, he is lying.' Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) started with the man, and he swore by Allah four times, testifying that he was truthful, and the fifth time he said, 'If I am lying, then may the curse of Allah be upon me.' Then he turned to the woman, and she also swore by Allah four times, testifying that he was lying, and the fifth time she said, 'If he is truthful, then may the wrath of Allah be upon me.' Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) separated the two of them."