Four who testify that a man committed zina but are not found upright

Isma'il said that it is reported from al-Sha'bi concerning four men who testified against a man that he had committed unlawful sexual intercourse (zina), and one of those witnesses was not upright. He said: The prescribed punishment is averted from them, because they are four.

Ash'ath said that al-Sha'bi said: When four witnesses testify to unlawful sexual intercourse (zina) and all of them were not upright, they are not to be flogged.

Ash'ath said that al-Hasan al-Basri said: When four men testify against a man that he committed unlawful sexual intercourse (zina), and those four are not declared upright, the prescribed punishment is averted from them, and none of them is to be flogged.