Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah and Sayyiduna Zayd bin Khalid al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with them) narrate that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about a slave-girl who is unmarried and commits adultery (what punishment should be given to her). He said: If she commits adultery, flog her; then if she commits adultery again, flog her; then if she commits adultery again, flog her; then if she commits adultery again, sell her, even if it is for a rope. Ibn Shihab Zuhri says: I do not remember whether he said these words the third time or the fourth time. "Dhafeer" means rope.