Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah

And the Prophet (ﷺ) informed him that Allah, the Exalted, had forgiven him due to his ablution and performance of prayer; it was a sin less than adultery which necessitates the prescribed punishment.

Because every act from which Allah Almighty has strictly forbidden is subject to the application of a hadd (legal limit); hadd is not only for those sins which make whipping, stoning, or cutting of hands and feet obligatory. Allah Almighty, mentioning the divorced woman, said: « لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِن بُيُوتِهِنَّ .... فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُ » [ سورة الطلاق ] "Do not expel them from their houses, nor should they leave on their own, unless they commit a clear immorality. These are the limits set by Allah. Whoever transgresses the limits of Allah has certainly wronged himself." And the statement of Allah Almighty is: « تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ فَلَا تَعْتَدُوهَا » [ سورة البقرة ] "These are the limits set by Allah, so do not transgress them." Therefore, the act from which Allah Almighty has rebuked is subject to the application of a hadd, because Allah Almighty has commanded to stay within those limits, so one should not transgress or go beyond them.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and informed him that he had kissed a woman, or touched her with his hand, or done something else. It was as if he was asking the Prophet (peace be upon him) about its expiation. He says that Allah Almighty then revealed this verse « وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ ۚ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّاكِرِينَ » [ سورة هود ] "Establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds remove bad deeds. That is a reminder for those who remember." He says that the man asked, "Is this only for me?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, "It is for every member of my Ummah who acts upon it." Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated, through the chain of Sulaiman Tamimi, a narration similar to the one mentioned above. In it, it is stated that he kissed a woman, and there are no words of doubt mentioned in it, nor are the words narrated that it was as if he was asking about its expiation.

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), I met a woman in a garden, so I embraced her, showed affection to her, kissed her, and did everything with her except intercourse." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) remained silent, then this noble verse was revealed: "Indeed, good deeds erase bad deeds. That is a reminder for those who take heed." So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) called him and recited this verse to him. Then Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) submitted, "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), is this ruling specific to him or for all people?" He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, "Rather, it is for all people."