03-31-2004, 10:56 AM
Asalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,
I've read this post a few times and what I find remarkable is not once does the author state that for the punishments to actually be carried out, there are many criteria to be met.
For example, the punishment for adultery is stoning to death - providing there is a <b>confession</b> from the guilty party OR <b>four witnesses</b> to the ACTUAL act of penetration. Furthermore, if someone confesses and then retracts their confession, the punishment of stoning is not to take place.
For stealing - the punishment is amputation of the hand providing there is a <b>confession</b> or <b>two witnesses </b>to the act such that according to the witnesses there is no doubt that the person accused was in the act of stealing. The punishment is also only to take place if the value of the stolen goods is over certain amount (I cannot off the top of my head remember the amount but inshaAllah, time permitting I can find this is anyone is interested). If my memory serves me correctly, I think in this day and age, it works out to be over $300 (US).
If I have time, I can find a link for anyone interested inshaAllah.
-spider