Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Abu Uthman narrates that when Hazrat Abu Bakrah and his two companions testified against Hazrat Mughirah, Ziyad came. Hazrat Umar said to him: "No man shall ever testify, insha’Allah, except to the truth." He said: "I saw something astonishing and a bad gathering." Upon this, Hazrat Umar asked: "Did you see the needle enter the kohl container?" He replied: "No." Hazrat Umar then gave the order regarding them, so all of them were flogged.

Hazrat Ibn Sirin narrates that some people testified against a man for adultery, so Hazrat Uthman gestured with his hand in this way and said: Do you bear witness to this matter? And he inserted his index finger into his left finger and made the number ten.

Hazrat Qasama bin Zuhair narrates that when the matter of Hazrat Abu Bakrah and Hazrat Mughirah bin Shu’bah occurred, it happened in this way: Hazrat Abu Bakrah said, “Stay away from our prayers; indeed, we will not pray behind you.” So Hazrat Mughirah wrote a letter about them to Hazrat Umar. Hazrat Umar wrote a reply to Hazrat Mughirah: “After praise and salutations, indeed, one of your matters has reached me. So if it is true against you, then surely it would have been better for you to have died before today.” Then he wrote a letter to them and the witnesses that they should all come to him. So when all of them reached Hazrat Umar, he called the witnesses, and they gave testimony. Thus, Hazrat Abu Bakrah, Hazrat Shibl bin Ma’bad, and Abu Abdullah Nafi’ gave testimony. The narrator says: When these three had testified, Hazrat Umar said, “Mughirah is destroyed! Let the fourth man come!” And this situation was very hard on Hazrat Umar. So when Ziyad stood up, he said, “He will never testify, insha’Allah, except with the truth.” Then he testified and said, “As far as adultery is concerned, I do not testify to that, but indeed I saw an obscene matter.” Upon this, Hazrat Umar said, “Allahu Akbar! Flog these three.” So he had them flogged. When Hazrat Abu Bakrah stood up and said, “I testify that indeed he is an adulterer!” Hazrat Umar was about to have the punishment carried out on him again. Upon this, Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “If you flog him, then stone your companion as well!” So Hazrat Umar let him go, and after that, he was not flogged twice for one accusation.

Hazrat Abu Khulda narrates that Saeed bin Artaban, who is the uncle of Hazrat Ibn Aun, met me. He said, "Do you intend to visit Hazrat Abu Al-Aliyah?" I replied, "Yes." He said, "Then say to him: Hasan Basri, Hazrat Ibn Sirin, and Hazrat Thabit Banani—all these respected persons—testified against a man and a woman that both committed adultery, and the woman confessed while the man denied it. What is the ruling?" The narrator says, "So I asked Hazrat Abu Al-Aliyah about this matter." He replied, "You have met one of your self-indulgent people. Hasan Basri will be flogged eighty lashes, and Muhammad will be flogged eighty lashes, and Thabit Banani will be flogged eighty lashes, and the woman, due to her confession, will be stoned to death, and the man will go free and no punishment will be applied to him."

Hazrat Sha'bi narrates that the Jews asked the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): What is its limit, that is, the punishment of stoning? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: When four men testify that indeed they saw the man entering (upon the woman) just as a needle enters a kohl container, then indeed stoning is established.

Hazrat Shaibani states that Hazrat Sha'bi said: When four men testify to something, they have protected their own backs, and their testimony will be valid.

The father of Hazrat Ja'far narrates that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I do not like to be the first witness among four.