Some people say: what is this stoning? ín the Book of Allah it mentions flogging.But the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stoned [adulterers] and we stoned [them] after him. Were it not that some people would say that 'Umar added something to the Book of Allah that is not part of it, I would have written it the way it was revealed.
Exposition of the Hadith on Stoning
This narration from the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, specifically Musnad `Umar b. al-Khattab (ra) number 197, addresses the divinely prescribed punishment (hadd) for adultery. The statement "Were it not that some people would say..." demonstrates the profound caution of the Companions in matters of religion and their protection of the Qur'an's text from any potential misunderstanding or alteration.
Reconciliation Between Flogging and Stoning
The apparent contradiction between the Qur'anic mention of flogging and the Prophetic practice of stoning is resolved through the principles of abrogation (naskh). Scholars explain that stoning was the original ruling revealed for married adulterers, while the verse of flogging addressed unmarried offenders. Some hold that the recitation of the stoning verse was abrogated while its ruling remained in effect.
This exemplifies how the Sunnah explains and specifies the general rulings of the Qur'an. The practice of Allah's Messenger ﷺ constitutes revelation (wahy) and serves as an authoritative source of legislation alongside the Qur'anic text.
Scholarly Commentary on Legal Wisdom
Imam al-Nawawi and other classical scholars emphasized that stoning applies specifically to muhsan (married) individuals who commit adultery, as their violation of the marital covenant represents a more severe breach of trust. The preservation of lineage (hifz al-nasl) and protection of family honor constitute primary objectives of Islamic law that this punishment safeguards.
`Umar's (ra) statement reflects the Companions' consensus on this ruling and their meticulous care in transmitting religious knowledge exactly as they received it from the Prophet ﷺ without addition or subtraction.