Ruling on Accepting Wealth in Exchange for the Punishment of Rajm (Stoning)
❖ Reference:Muttafaq ʿalayh – Narrated by Abū Hurayrah and Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhanī (رضي الله عنهما)
[Al-Bukhārī: 2860, 2867, 2695 | Muslim: 1697]
A Bedouin came to the Prophet ﷺ requesting a judgment according to the Book of Allah. His opponent said, “Yes, judge between us according to Allah’s Book and allow me to speak.” The man explained that his son, working as a servant, committed adultery with the wife of the other man. He was told that the punishment for his son was stoning, so he offered one hundred sheep and a maidservant in compensation. Upon consulting scholars, he was informed that his son only deserved one hundred lashes and a year of exile, while the woman was to be stoned. The Prophet ﷺ returned the compensation and confirmed the punishments per Islamic law.
➊ Preservation of Legal Hudūd (Punishments):
The punishments prescribed by Allah, such as lashes and stoning for adultery, must be upheld and cannot be waived through monetary compensation or settlement.
➋ Invalidity of Monetary Settlement for Crimes Deserving Hudūd:
Receiving money in lieu of executing the prescribed punishment (like rajm) is prohibited. It is deemed a form of bribery and a mockery of Allah’s divine limits (ḥudūd).
➌ Prophet’s ﷺ Judgments Aligned with Divine Will:
The Prophet ﷺ ruled consistently according to the Qur’an, reflecting Allah’s will precisely, without compromise or bias.
➍ Verification of Confession in Adultery Cases:
It is permissible to assign someone to confirm a confession from the accused in a case of zinā. In this case, Anas (رضي الله عنه) was sent to confirm the woman’s confession.
➎ Admission as Primary Evidence in Ḥadd Crimes:
The primary evidence for enforcing stoning or lashes is the voluntary confession of the offender. If the accused does not confess, then the presence of four eyewitnesses is required. In their absence, the accuser is liable to the punishment of false accusation (ḥadd al-qadhf).
❖ Reference:Muttafaq ʿalayh – Narrated by Abū Hurayrah and Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhanī (رضي الله عنهما)
[Al-Bukhārī: 2860, 2867, 2695 | Muslim: 1697]
Hadith Summary
A Bedouin came to the Prophet ﷺ requesting a judgment according to the Book of Allah. His opponent said, “Yes, judge between us according to Allah’s Book and allow me to speak.” The man explained that his son, working as a servant, committed adultery with the wife of the other man. He was told that the punishment for his son was stoning, so he offered one hundred sheep and a maidservant in compensation. Upon consulting scholars, he was informed that his son only deserved one hundred lashes and a year of exile, while the woman was to be stoned. The Prophet ﷺ returned the compensation and confirmed the punishments per Islamic law.
Key Rulings and Benefits
➊ Preservation of Legal Hudūd (Punishments):The punishments prescribed by Allah, such as lashes and stoning for adultery, must be upheld and cannot be waived through monetary compensation or settlement.
➋ Invalidity of Monetary Settlement for Crimes Deserving Hudūd:
Receiving money in lieu of executing the prescribed punishment (like rajm) is prohibited. It is deemed a form of bribery and a mockery of Allah’s divine limits (ḥudūd).
➌ Prophet’s ﷺ Judgments Aligned with Divine Will:
The Prophet ﷺ ruled consistently according to the Qur’an, reflecting Allah’s will precisely, without compromise or bias.
➍ Verification of Confession in Adultery Cases:
It is permissible to assign someone to confirm a confession from the accused in a case of zinā. In this case, Anas (رضي الله عنه) was sent to confirm the woman’s confession.
➎ Admission as Primary Evidence in Ḥadd Crimes:
The primary evidence for enforcing stoning or lashes is the voluntary confession of the offender. If the accused does not confess, then the presence of four eyewitnesses is required. In their absence, the accuser is liable to the punishment of false accusation (ḥadd al-qadhf).
