A man from Bani Aslam came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) while he was in the mosque and called (the Prophet (ﷺ) ) saying, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I have committed illegal sexual intercourse." On that the Prophet (ﷺ) turned his face from him to the other side, whereupon the man moved to the side towards which the Prophet (ﷺ) had turned his face, and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I have committed illegal sexual intercourse." The Prophet turned his face (from him) to the other side whereupon the man moved to the side towards which the Prophet (ﷺ) had turned his face, and repeated his statement. The Prophet (ﷺ) turned his face (from him) to the other side again. The man moved again (and repeated his statement) for the fourth time. So when the man had given witness four times against himself, the Prophet (ﷺ) called him and said, "Are you insane?" He replied, "No." The Prophet (ﷺ) then said (to his companions), "Go and stone him to death." The man was a married one. Jabir bin `Abdullah Al-Ansari said: I was one of those who stoned him. We stoned him at the Musalla (`Id praying place) in Medina. When the stones hit him with their sharp edges, he fled, but we caught him at Al-Harra and stoned him till he died.
Divorce - Sahih al-Bukhari 5271, 5272
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon His final Messenger Muhammad.
The Incident of Ma'iz ibn Malik
This narration from the Sahih of Imam al-Bukhari recounts the profound incident of Ma'iz ibn Malik al-Aslami, who came to the Prophet (ﷺ) confessing to zinā (illegal sexual intercourse). The Prophet's repeated turning away demonstrates his hope that the man might retract his confession, reflecting the Islamic principle of concealing sins when possible.
Scholarly Commentary on the Legal Procedure
The Prophet's question "Are you insane?" establishes the essential condition of legal responsibility (taklīf) - that the confessor must be of sound mind. The fourfold confession mirrors the requirement of four witnesses for proving zinā, creating parallel evidentiary standards.
The stoning punishment applies specifically because Ma'iz was muhsan (married), having fulfilled the conditions of legal marriage. This distinguishes his case from that of unmarried fornicators, who receive a different punishment.
Spiritual Dimensions and Lessons
Ma'iz's persistence demonstrates his profound desire for purification and his certainty about the afterlife. Scholars note this reflects complete tawba (repentance) and yearning for Allah's mercy through accepting the prescribed punishment.
The Prophet's visible discomfort and repeated attempts to avoid implementing the punishment illustrate his compassionate nature and the gravity of taking life, even when legally required.
Jurisprudential Implications
This hadith establishes that confession must be voluntary, repeated, and specific. The fleeing during punishment does not invalidate the sentence, as completion remains obligatory once legally established.
The scholars derive from this that Islamic punishments serve both as purification for individuals and as protection for society's moral fabric when applied according to strict evidential requirements.