Who Holds That Punishment Is Due Even for Ambiguous Statements

Hazrat Ibrahim bin Amir narrates that it is reported from Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib that a man said to another man: "O son of a singing woman." So he (Saeed bin Musayyib) said: The punishment of qazf (false accusation of adultery) will be imposed on him.

Hazrat Abu Rijal narrates that his mother, Hazrat Umrah, said: Two men abused each other, so one of them said: "My mother is not an adulteress and my father is not an adulterer." Upon this, Hazrat Umar consulted the people regarding the matter. The people said, "He has praised his father and mother." Hazrat Umar replied: "There could have been other ways to praise them." Thus, he imposed the prescribed punishment (hadd) on him.

Hazrat Muawiyah bin Qurrah narrates that a man said to another: "O son of Shamatu'l-Wazr," meaning "O son of an adulterer." So that person sought help from Hazrat Uthman bin Affan against him. The man said: "Indeed, I meant such and such by it." But by the order of Hazrat Uthman, the prescribed punishment (hadd) was carried out on him.

Hazrat Mughira narrates that Ibrahim said: There is punishment even in ambiguous speech.

Hazrat Hisham states that his father, Hazrat Urwah, said: In this too, the prescribed punishment will be obligatory.

Hazrat Ibn Sirin narrates that Hazrat Samurah said: Whoever speaks to us ambiguously, we will also speak to him ambiguously.

Hazrat Abu Raja reports that Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Usman used to give punishment in cases of fault-finding.

Hazrat Ibn Jurayj states that Hazrat Ata held the opinion of punishment in the case of ambiguous speech.

Hazrat Awza'i says that Imam Zuhri used to administer the hadd punishment of lashes in the case of ambiguous speech.