A group of Jews came and invited the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to Quff. So he visited them in their school.
They said: AbulQasim, one of our men has committed fornication with a woman; so pronounce judgment upon them. They placed a cushion for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who sat on it and said: Bring the Torah. It was then brought. He then withdrew the cushion from beneath him and placed the Torah on it saying: I believed in thee and in Him Who revealed thee.
He then said: Bring me one who is learned among you. Then a young man was brought. The transmitter then mentioned the rest of the tradition of stoning similar to the one transmitted by Malik from Nafi'(No. 4431).
Hadith Context & Significance
This narration from Sunan Abi Dawud 4449 demonstrates the Prophet's ﷺ recognition of previous divine scriptures and his application of Mosaic law before the full revelation of Islamic penal code. The Jews of Quff tested the Prophet's judgment regarding adultery, seeking to validate or invalidate his prophethood based on his ruling.
The incident showcases the continuity of divine law across revelations and establishes the principle that previous religious laws remain valid unless explicitly abrogated by subsequent revelation.
Scholarly Commentary on Key Actions
Visiting the School: The Prophet's ﷺ acceptance of the invitation demonstrates the permissibility of entering places of worship of People of the Book for legitimate purposes, particularly da'wah and judicial matters.
The Cushion & Torah: His removal of the cushion to place the Torah directly on the ground shows utmost respect for divine scripture, while his declaration "I believed in thee and in Him Who revealed thee" affirms the Islamic belief in the original authenticity of earlier revelations.
Calling for a Learned Scholar: This reflects proper judicial procedure - consulting experts in the relevant field, particularly regarding scriptural interpretation and application.
Legal Implications & Rulings
This hadith establishes that the punishment of stoning (rajm) for married adulterers was prescribed in the Torah and confirmed by Islamic law. Classical scholars cite this as evidence for the validity of stoning within Islamic jurisprudence.
The incident occurred before the revelation of Surah An-Nur (24:2), which prescribes flogging for unmarried fornicators, indicating the complementary nature of these rulings rather than contradiction.
Scholars note that the Prophet's ﷺ application of Mosaic law in this case demonstrates that laws of previous prophets remain binding unless specifically abrogated by Islamic revelation.
Wisdom & Lessons
The narrative teaches proper conduct with People of the Book - maintaining respect for their scriptures while upholding divine law. It demonstrates the importance of consulting experts in specialized knowledge.
The Prophet's ﷺ methodology shows balance between honoring previous revelations and establishing the finality of Islamic law. His actions provide a model for interfaith dialogue grounded in mutual respect and commitment to truth.