Hazrat Khallas (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that a man divorced his wife and secretly appointed two men as witnesses, instructing them to keep this matter hidden. They kept it secret until the woman’s waiting period (‘iddah) had passed. This case was presented before Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), who considered the witnesses to be at fault and had them flogged, and deprived the man of his right to take his wife back.