Hadith Text & Context

The Prophet (ﷺ) had a man and a woman of the Jews who had committed fornication stoned to death.

This narration from Sunan Abi Dawud 4455 describes an incident where the Prophet Muhammad applied the prescribed punishment (hadd) for fornication upon a Jewish couple from the community of Medina.

Legal Ruling & Jurisprudential Analysis

Scholars explain this hadith establishes that the punishment of stoning applies to married persons who commit illegal sexual intercourse, regardless of their religious affiliation when living under Islamic governance.

Classical commentators note this incident demonstrates the continuity of Mosaic law regarding adultery within Islamic jurisprudence, as the Torah prescribes stoning for adulterers.

The ruling applies specifically to "muhsan" individuals - those who are married, free, adult Muslims, or protected non-Muslims (dhimmis) who have previously entered a valid marriage.

Conditions for Application

Islamic jurists stipulate four witnesses must testify to seeing the actual act of penetration, or a confession must be made voluntarily without coercion.

The punishment cannot be applied if there is any doubt (shubha) in the evidence, following the Prophetic principle to "avert punishments by doubts."

Significance & Wisdom

This ruling protects societal morality and family structure by creating a strong deterrent against illicit sexual relations.

The equal application to both Muslims and protected non-Muslims demonstrates the consistency of Islamic law and its protection of all citizens' moral welfare.

Scholars emphasize that the severity of the punishment reflects the severity of the crime's consequences on individuals, families, and society.