Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Receive (teaching) from me, receive (teaching) from me. Allah has ordained a way for those (women). When an unmarried male commits adultery with an unmarried female (they should receive) one hundred lashes and banishment for one year. And in case of married male committing adultery with a married female, they shall receive one hundred lashes and be stoned to death.
Hadith Text & Context
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: "Receive (teaching) from me, receive (teaching) from me. Allah has ordained a way for those (women). When an unmarried male commits adultery with an unmarried female (they should receive) one hundred lashes and banishment for one year. And in case of married male committing adultery with a married female, they shall receive one hundred lashes and be stoned to death." (Sahih Muslim 1690a)
Legal Rulings & Distinctions
For the Unmarried (Zina bil-Ghayr): The punishment is one hundred lashes and exile for one year. This applies to those who have never been married (bikr) or those whose marriage was not consummated.
For the Married (Zina bil-Muhsan): The punishment is one hundred lashes followed by stoning (rajm) to death. This applies to those who are free, adult Muslims who have entered a valid marriage and had the opportunity for lawful sexual relations.
Scholarly Commentary
The repetition "receive from me" emphasizes the divine origin of these rulings and the gravity of preserving them accurately. The phrase "Allah has ordained a way" (qad ja'ala lahunna sabilan) indicates these punishments are divinely prescribed, not human legislation.
Scholars note the hadith establishes different punishments based on marital status, with stoning reserved for those who violated the sanctity of marriage after having lawful means available. The legal conditions for implementation are extremely stringent, requiring either a confession repeated four times or the testimony of four eyewitnesses who saw the actual penetration.
Wisdom & Objectives
These punishments serve as both a deterrent and a purification for society, protecting lineage (nasab) and family structure. The severity reflects the serious damage adultery causes to social order.
The different punishments account for the greater responsibility of married individuals and the more severe breach of trust involved. The rigorous evidence requirements demonstrate Islam's emphasis on avoiding punishment where there is doubt.