Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

250 'Ali ibn Abi Trilib at the time of the Rightly Guided Caliphs
2.1.5. "This man had his way with me and
brought shame on me among my peoplef'
Ja'far ibn Muhammad said: "A woman was brought to 'Umar
ibn al-Khattib (&) who had fallen in love with a young man of the
An$%. When he did not respond to her, she tried a trick against him.
She took an egg, threw away the yolk and poured the white between
her thighs and on her clothes, then she ran screaming to 'Umar (&)
and said: 'This man had his way with me and brought shame on me
among my people, and here are the traces of what he did.' 'Umar
(&) asked the women, and they told him: 'There are traces of semen
on her body and clothing.' 'Umar (&) thought of punishing the
young man, but the man started asking for help and saying: '0 Amir
al-Mu'mineen, verify the issue, for by Allah I never did anything
wrong and never even thought of it. She tried to tempt me, but I
refused.' 'Umar (&) said: '0 Abn al-Hasan ('Ali), what do you
think about her case?' 'Ali (&) ,.. looked at what was on the garment.
Then he called for boiling hot water, which he poured onto the
garment, and the egg white solidified. Then he took it and smelled it
and tasted it, and he recognised the taste of egg. He rebuked the
woman and she admitted it."IZ6
From this event, we learn:
(a) That the means of proof in the Islamic judicial system
include confession, testimony, oath and denial, and they
also include circumstantial evidence and intuition.
(b) That 'Umar was keen to consult the senior Companions
(may Allah be pleased with them) with regard to new
issues, especially 'Ali, whom he held in the highest
esteem."'