What is the clear and detailed exegesis of the verses: "And for those who accuse their wives [of adultery] and have no witnesses except themselves - then the testimony of one of them shall be four testimonies [swearing] by Allah that he is indeed among the truthful. And the fifth [oath] will be that the curse of Allah be upon him if he should be among the liars. But it will avert punishment from her if she gives four testimonies [swearing] by Allah that he is indeed among the li liars. And the fifth [oath] will be that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he should be among the truthful," and how are these testimonies performed, and what is their number?

The verses have shown that if a man accuses his wife of adultery without witnesses, it necessitates li'an (mutual imprecation) between them. The husband testifies four times by Allah that he is truthful, and the fifth time that the curse of Allah be upon him if he is a liar. The wife averts the punishment from herself by testifying four times by Allah that he is a liar, and the fifth time that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he is truthful. This results in their separation. The circumstances necessitating li'an according to the Malikis are when the husband sees his wife committing adultery or when he denies her pregnancy. The Malikis stipulated that the husband must be Muslim, while Abu Hanifa stipulated that both spouses must be Muslim, free, and just. The procedure for li'an is that the husband begins by saying, "I bear witness by Allah that I am among the truthful in what I have accused her of regarding adultery," four times, then "and the curse of Allah be upon him if he is among the liars." Then the wife says, "I bear witness by Allah that he has lied in what he accused me of regarding adultery," four times, then "and the wrath of Allah be upon her if he is among the truthful." If there is a child, the father’s denial of the child and the mother’s affirmation of the child are added to their respective li'an testimonies.