⪼ The Commandment and Legitimacy of Rajm (Stoning) in Islam ⪻
❖ Reference:
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2829 — Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1691
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنه) from ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه)
While addressing the people from the minbar (pulpit) of the Prophet ﷺ, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb declared that:
Allah revealed the Qur’ān to His Messenger ﷺ with truth, and included in it was the verse of stoning. We read it, memorized it, and understood it. The Prophet ﷺ carried out stoning, and we also practiced it after him. I fear that with time, people may say: "We do not find the punishment of stoning in the Book of Allah," and hence abandon an obligation revealed by Allah. Verily, stoning is a rightful duty on any muḥṣan (married) man or woman who commits zinā, if there is witness testimony, pregnancy, or confession.
➊ Stoning is a Fixed Islamic Command (Farīḍah):
It is a divinely legislated obligation for the punishment of sharʿī zinā (fornication by married persons), just like any other ḥadd in Islam.
➋ Stoning is Proven by:
➌ Neglecting an Obligation Leads to Misguidance:
Rejecting a proven Islamic command like rajm leads one to deviation and disgrace, especially when it is explicitly established by Sunnah.
➍ Practice of Rajm Was Continued After the Prophet ﷺ:
Not only the Prophet ﷺ implemented rajm, but the Rightly Guided Caliphs also maintained this practice, showing its continuous and unbroken application in Islamic history.
➎ Use of Minbar by the Caliphs:
The minbar remained a place of public declarations and critical reminders, especially for highlighting forgotten or under-emphasized aspects of the religion.
❖ Reference:
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2829 — Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1691
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنه) from ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه)
Hadith Summary
While addressing the people from the minbar (pulpit) of the Prophet ﷺ, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb declared that:Allah revealed the Qur’ān to His Messenger ﷺ with truth, and included in it was the verse of stoning. We read it, memorized it, and understood it. The Prophet ﷺ carried out stoning, and we also practiced it after him. I fear that with time, people may say: "We do not find the punishment of stoning in the Book of Allah," and hence abandon an obligation revealed by Allah. Verily, stoning is a rightful duty on any muḥṣan (married) man or woman who commits zinā, if there is witness testimony, pregnancy, or confession.
Key Learnings and Rulings
➊ Stoning is a Fixed Islamic Command (Farīḍah):It is a divinely legislated obligation for the punishment of sharʿī zinā (fornication by married persons), just like any other ḥadd in Islam.
➋ Stoning is Proven by:
- Witnesses (i.e., four reliable Muslim witnesses), or
- Confession by the sinner, or
- Evidence of pregnancy in a case where the woman is unmarried.
➌ Neglecting an Obligation Leads to Misguidance:
Rejecting a proven Islamic command like rajm leads one to deviation and disgrace, especially when it is explicitly established by Sunnah.
➍ Practice of Rajm Was Continued After the Prophet ﷺ:
Not only the Prophet ﷺ implemented rajm, but the Rightly Guided Caliphs also maintained this practice, showing its continuous and unbroken application in Islamic history.
➎ Use of Minbar by the Caliphs:
The minbar remained a place of public declarations and critical reminders, especially for highlighting forgotten or under-emphasized aspects of the religion.
