Adultery – In Biblical And Islamic Terms

[umm Zachariah]

Bismillah


Assalamu aleikum,


Hi JohnDoe,


I will make a final attempt to clarify this for you.


And just try to bear in mind, that Islam is built on TWO SOURCES, the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad's, SAWS Sunnah, which we can read in the hadiths.


First recall that the Qur'an was revealed during 23 years, and some things were revealed step by step, so that it would easily be accepted by the new Muslims during this early stage of Islam. As for example the punishment for adultery. During the period before Islam adultery was common and the laws for that was now about to be changed. So the first revealation merely spoke of the punishment of confining only woman guilty of sexual offences in their houses until they died.


''If any of your women are guilty of lewdness, Take the evidence of four (Reliable) witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them to houses until death do claim them, or Allah ordain for them some (other) way.''
The Qur'an 4:15


The second revelation covered both men and women and was a little specific regarding punsishment for adultery.


''If two men among you are guilty of lewdness, punish them both. If they repent and amend, Leave them alone; for Allah is Oft-returning, Most Merciful.''
The Qur'an 4:16


The third revealation came with specific punishment for adultery.


''The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment.''
The Qur'an 24:2


When this verse was revealed, it was understood that those guilty of adultery should be given one hundred lashes as a punishment.


The Prophet of Islam, SAWS clarified the injunction;


Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 82, Number 817:


Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:


'...Allah sent Muhammad with the Truth and revealed the Holy Book to him, and among what Allah revealed, was the Verse of the Rajam (the stoning of married person (male & female) who commits illegal sexual intercourse, and we did recite this Verse and understood and memorized it. Allah's Apostle did carry out the punishment of stoning and so did we after him.


I am afraid that after a long time has passed, somebody will say, 'By Allah, we do not find the Verse of the Rajam in Allah's Book,' and thus they will go astray by leaving an obligation which Allah has revealed. And the punishment of the Rajam is to be inflicted to any married person (male & female), who commits illegal sexual intercourse, if the required evidence is available or there is conception or confession...'


Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 82, Number 804:


Narrated Ash Shaibani:


'I asked 'Abdullah bin Abi Aufa, 'Did Allah's Apostle carry out the Rajam penalty ( i.e., stoning to death)?' He said, "Yes." I said, "Before the revelation of Surat-ar-Nur or after it?" He replied, "I don't Know."


Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 82, Number 805:


Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari:


'A man from the tribe of Bani Aslam came to Allah's Apostle and Informed him that he had committed illegal sexual intercourse and bore witness four times against himself. Allah's Apostle ordered him to be stoned to death as he was a married Person.'


So there is no doubt whatsover about this issue in Islam, it has been clarified enough, beyond every doubt.


So you are so right John, you don't have to worry a bit, everything is in order when it concerns this - NOW it is only human beings that has to begin to wake up and act accordingly. It could also be a good line to follow for non-Muslims too, to think before act.


Regards