Li`aan' refers to a situation where a person accuses his spouse of adultery. In this article we examine the claim made by a christian writer that only husbands have the right to practise Li`aan' in islam, or in other words only husbands ( according to the christian writer ) have the right to accuse their spouses of adultery. The case of Li`aan' is explained in Soerah 24:6-11.

Soerah 24:6-11

And for those who launch a charge against their spouses, and have (in support) no evidence but their own,- their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by God that they are solemnly telling the truth; And the fifth (oath) (should be) that they solemnly invoke the curse of God on themselves if they tell a lie. But it would avert the punishment from the wife, if she bears witness four times (with an oath) By God, that (her husband) is telling a lie; And the fifth (oath) should be that she solemnly invokes the wrath of God on herself if (her accuser) is telling the truth. If it were not for God's grace and mercy on you, and that God is Oft-Returning, full of Wisdom,- (Ye would be ruined indeed).

The christian missionary comments:

a woman apparently cannot charge her own husband similarly. A woman apparently can only defend herself against charges brought against her. She cannot play the equal role of the man as accuser.

Response:
The above comment made by the christian missionary is not correct and untrue. The scholars of ourdialogue.com comment: “When we speak of the masculine gender used in the Qur’an, we should know that in Arabic this is a standard usage, and it applies to both sexes equally. Nevertheless, God has taken care to mention on several occasions that His provisions and reward apply to men and women in equal measure. If anyone does not agree, he is then saying that Islamic duties do not apply to women.