Derived from: Fatāwā Amnapūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Mustafa Ẓahīr Amnapūrī
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on Rajm (stoning to death) in Islam?
✅ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
✿ Ruling According to the Sharī‘ah:
◈ If a married man or woman commits adultery, the prescribed punishment is Rajm (stoning to death).
◈ This Hudud penalty is firmly established by the Qur’an, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus (ijmāʿ) of the Ummah.
◈ It is the unanimous position of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah.
◈ The only opposition comes from deviant sects such as the Khawārij, whose views are not considered valid by scholars of truth.
✿ Hadith Evidence:
❖ Narration of Abū Hurayrah and Zayd ibn Khālid (رضي الله عنهما):
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and requested judgment according to the Book of Allah. Another man (more knowledgeable) clarified the issue:
His son, working as a servant, committed adultery with another man’s wife. A compensation of 100 sheep and a servant was offered, but later, scholars informed them:
– The boy should be punished with 100 lashes and one year of exile,
– The married woman should be stoned to death.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“By the One in whose hand is my soul, I will judge between you according to the Book of Allah. The sheep and servant are to be returned, your son will receive 100 lashes and one year of exile, and O Anīs, go to the woman—if she confesses, then stone her.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6827, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1697)
✿ Commentary of the Scholars:
❖ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn al-Mulqin (رحمه الله) (d. 804 AH) states:
“This hadith confirms the validity of Rajm. There is no disagreement in this matter. The opposition of the Khawārij is disregarded as they opposed many aspects of the Sunnah.”
(al-Tawḍīḥ, 17/30)
❖ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr (رحمه الله) (d. 463 AH) said:
“This hadith establishes the ruling of Rajm on a married adulterer. It is a matter upon which there is consensus among the people of truth—namely the scholars of fiqh and hadith. No validly recognized scholar has opposed it.”
(al-Tamhīd, 14/388)
✅ Summary:
◈ Rajm is a firmly established legal punishment for married adulterers in Islam.
◈ The Qur’an, authentic Hadiths, and scholarly consensus all affirm its legitimacy.
◈ Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah are unanimously agreed on its implementation.
◈ Opposing views, such as those held by the Khawārij, are rejected and carry no weight in the Islamic legal tradition.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
