Abu Huraira and Zaid b. Khalid told that two men brought a dispute before God’s Messenger, one of them saying, "Pronounce judgment between us in accordance with God’s Book," and the other saying, "Yes Messenger of God, pronounce judgment between us in accordance with God’s Book, and allow me to speak." He told him to speak and he said, "My son who was a hired servant with this man committed fornication with his wife, and when I was told that my son must be stoned to death I ransomed him with a hundred sheep and a slave girl of mine; but when I asked the learned they told me that my son should receive a hundred lashes and be banished for a year, and that stoning to death applied only to the man’s wife." God’s Messenger replied, "By Him in whose hand my soul is, I shall certainly pronounce judgment between you in accordance with God's Book. Your sheep and your slave girl must be returned to you, and your son shall receive a hundred lashes and be banished for a year. As for you, Unais, go to this man's wife, and if she confesses stone her to death." She confessed and he stoned her. (Bukhari and Muslim.)
The Case of Prescribed Punishments
This narration from Mishkat al-Masabih 3555 presents a profound legal case adjudicated by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ concerning the divine punishments (hudud) for unlawful sexual relations.
Scholarly Commentary on the Legal Principles
The case demonstrates several fundamental Islamic legal principles: the necessity of applying Allah's prescribed punishments exactly as revealed, the importance of proper legal procedure, and the distinction between different categories of offenders.
The son, being unmarried (based on the prescribed punishment of lashing rather than stoning), received one hundred lashes and exile for one year according to the punishment for unmarried fornicators. The woman, being married (evidenced by the requirement of stoning), received the prescribed punishment for adultery.
Legal Wisdom and Justice
The Prophet's ﷺ immediate correction of the father's mistaken application of stoning to his unmarried son demonstrates that hudud punishments must be applied with precise knowledge of their conditions and categories.
The requirement of confession for the married woman's punishment highlights the Islamic legal principle of requiring clear evidence—either confession or the testimony of four eyewitnesses—for implementing the most severe punishments.
The return of the ransom emphasizes that punishments cannot be commuted or ransomed once properly established, preserving the divine nature of these legislated penalties.