A woman of Ghamid came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: I have committed fornication. He said: Go back. She returned, and on the next day she came to him again, and said: Perhaps you want to send me back as you did to Ma’iz b. Malik. I swear by Allah, I am pregnant. He said to her: Go back. She then returned and came to him the next day. He said to her: Go back until you give birth to a child. She then returned. When she gave birth to a child, she brought the child to him, and said: Here it is! I have given birth to it. He said: Go back, and suckle him until you wean him. When she had weaned him, she brought him (the boy) to him with something in his hand which he was eating. The boy was then given to a certain man of the Muslims and he (the Prophet) commanded regarding her. So a pit was dug for her, and he gave orders about her and she was stoned to death. Khalid was one of those who were throwing stones at her. He threw a stone at her. When a drop blood fell on his cheeks, he abused her. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him: Gently, Khalid. By Him in whose hand my soul is, she has reported to such an extent that if one who wrongfully takes extra tax were to repent to a like extent, he would be forgiven. Then giving command regarding her, prayed over her and she was buried.
Hadith Commentary: The Ghamidi Woman's Repentance
This profound narration from Sunan Abi Dawud 4442 in the Book of Prescribed Punishments (Kitab Al-Hudud) demonstrates the meticulous care Islam takes in implementing divine punishments while emphasizing the paramount importance of sincere repentance.
Scholarly Analysis of Legal Procedure
The Prophet's repeated sending back of the woman reflects the Islamic legal principle of seeking doubts and obstacles that might prevent implementation of hudud. Scholars note he sought to ensure: her confession was voluntary and persistent, pregnancy status was confirmed, and the child's rights to nursing were fulfilled.
Classical jurists explain that the Prophet delayed the punishment to protect the innocent fetus and ensure the newborn received proper nursing, demonstrating Islam's comprehensive concern for all lives involved.
Theological Significance of Repentance
When Khalid ibn al-Walid cursed the woman after her blood splashed on him, the Prophet immediately corrected him, revealing the elevated status of her repentance. Scholars interpret this as indicating that sincere repentance can expiate sins so completely that the repentant person attains a noble status before Allah.
The comparison to the tax-collector who wrongfully takes extra money illustrates that genuine repentance - regardless of the sin's magnitude - can lead to divine forgiveness when accompanied by such determination and sincerity.
Jurisprudential Implications
This hadith establishes multiple legal principles: hudud require conclusive evidence or repeated, voluntary confession; punishments are delayed for legitimate excuses like pregnancy; the rights of children must be secured before punishment; and the praying over the executed indicates they died as Muslims despite their sin.
Scholars emphasize that the stoning was ultimately implemented not as rejection but as fulfillment of divine law, while her spiritual state was honored through the Prophet's prayer and defense of her sincere repentance.