Husband sees adultery

Question:

Does the husband who sees adultery with his own eyes suffice as a witness?

Answer:

Dawud Ibn Farqad reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “The companions of the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said to Sa’d Ibn Ubadah: “What would you do if you caught a man on your wife?” He said: “I would slaughter him with the sword.” Then the messenger came out and said: “What is going on here, O Sa’d?” Sa’d reported that they said: “What would you do if you caught a man on your wife?” So I said: “I would slaughter him with the sword.” The Prophet said: “O Sa’d, what of the four witnesses?” Sa’d said: “O Messenger of God, even after i have seen it with my own eyes, and when God knows that it was done?” The Prophet (s.) said: “Yes, it is so with God, even after you have seen it with your own eyes and although God knows that it was done. God has set a limit to all things, and He has set a punishment for transgression (hudud) for those who cross that limit.” [Wasa’il-ush-Shi’ah by Al-Hurr Al-Amili, Volume 28, page 14]

محمد بن يعقوب، عن عدة من أصحابنا، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن الحسين بن سعيد، عن فضالة بن أيوب، عن داود ابن فرقد قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: إن أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله قالوا لسعد بن عبادة: أرأيت لو وجدت على بطن امرأتك رجلا ما كنت صانعا به؟ قال: كنت أضربه بالسيف، قال: فخرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله فقال: ماذا يا سعد؟ فقال سعد: قالوا: لو وجدت على بطن امرأتك رجلا ما كنت صانعا به، فقلت: أضربه بالسيف، فقال: يا سعد، فكيف بالأربعة الشهود؟ فقال: يا رسول الله صلى الله علي هوآله بعد رأي عيني وعلم الله أن قد فعل؟ قال: اي والله بعد رأي عينك وعلم الله أن قد فعل، إن الله قد جعل لكل شيء حدا وجعل لمن تعدى ذلك الحد حدا