The saying of Allah, exalted be His praise: "And those who accuse chaste women and then do not bring four witnesses, flog them with eighty (80) lashes and never accept their testimony, and it is they who are the defiantly disobedient." [Surah al-Nur: 4] "Except those who repent after that and reform, then indeed Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Surah al-Nur: 5]
Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "An exception that comes in the course of speech applies to both the beginning and the end of the speech, according to the position of all the people of fiqh, unless a hadith distinguishes between them."
Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "And indeed there is a hadith (also) on this."
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الشهادات / Q20545