Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Abu Zubyan Janbi that a woman was brought to Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him); she had committed adultery, so he ordered her to be stoned. The people took her to be stoned. When they met Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), he asked: What are you going to do? They said: She has committed adultery and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) has ordered her to be stoned. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) freed the woman from their hands and sent those who were taking her back. When they returned to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: Why have you come back? They said: Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) has sent us back. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Then Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) must have done so based on some knowledge of the matter. Then Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) sent for Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). When he came, it seemed as if he was angry. He said: O Ali! What happened to you that you sent them back? Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Did you not hear the saying of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: The pen has been lifted from three types of people: (1) from the sleeping person until he wakes up, (2) from the child until he reaches puberty, and (3) from the insane person until he becomes sane? Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Why not, I have certainly heard it. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: This is a woman of weak intellect from the Banu Fulan tribe; it is possible that the concerned man committed adultery with her when she was in a state of insanity. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I do not know. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I do not know either. And Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did not have her stoned.