God sent Muhammad with the truth and sent down the Book to him, and the verse of stoning was included in what God most high sent down. God's Messenger had people stoned to death and we have done it also since his death. Stoning is a duty laid down in God’s Book for married men and women who commit fornication when proof is established, or if there is pregnancy, or a confession. (Bukhari and Muslim.)
The Divine Legislation of Stoning
This narration establishes that stoning (rajm) for married fornicators (muhsan) was divinely revealed in the Quran, though its precise wording was later abrogated in recitation while its ruling remains binding. The Prophet's implementation and the Companions' continuation confirm its permanent legislative status.
Conditions for Implementation
The punishment applies exclusively to married Muslims who have had lawful sexual relations within marriage. Proof requires either: 1) testimony of four upright witnesses who directly observed the sexual act, 2) pregnancy without valid marriage, or 3) voluntary confession repeated four times without retraction.
Legal Wisdom and Evidentiary Standards
The stringent evidence requirements demonstrate Islam's emphasis on preserving honor and preventing false accusations. The high threshold protects society while maintaining moral boundaries. This punishment serves as both purification for the sinner and deterrent for the community when established through proper Islamic judicial process.
Scholarly Consensus and Continuity
The unanimous practice of the Rightly Guided Caliphs confirms this ruling's authenticity and application. This represents one of several rulings where the recitation was abrogated while the legal ruling remained, demonstrating the complementary nature of Quran and Sunnah in Islamic jurisprudence.