Verily Allah sent Muhammad (ﷺ) with truth and He sent down the Book upon him, and the verse of stoning was included in what was sent down to him. We recited it, retained it in our memory and understood it. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) awarded the punishment of stoning to death (to the married adulterer and adulteress) and, after him, we also awarded the punishment of stoning, I am afraid that with the lapse of time, the people (may forget it) and may say: We do not find the punishment of stoning in the Book of Allah, and thus go astray by abandoning this duty prescribed by Allah. Stoning is a duty laid down in Allah's Book for married men and women who commit adultery when proof is established, or it there is pregnancy, or a confession.
The Book of Legal Punishments
Sahih Muslim - Hadith 1691a
Textual Preservation of Divine Law
This narration establishes the critical principle of preserving both the recited Quran and the practical Sunnah of the Prophet. The companion's concern demonstrates early Muslim awareness that Islamic law comprises both written revelation and prophetic implementation.
The verse of stoning, though not in the current mus'haf, was part of divine revelation and its ruling remains binding through continuous practice (amal) of the Muslim community following the Prophet's example.
Legal Methodology & Conditions
Stoning (rajm) applies specifically to muhsan (married) individuals who commit adultery. The punishment requires either: 1) testimony of four upright witnesses to the actual act, 2) pregnancy without valid denial of intercourse, or 3) clear, voluntary confession without retraction.
This hadith illustrates the comprehensive nature of Islamic legislation where some rulings were established through practical application rather than solely through preserved written text.
Scholarly Consensus
Classical scholars unanimously agree on the validity of stoning as a prescribed punishment in Islam based on this and other authentic narrations. The preservation of this ruling through continuous practice (tawatur al-amal) gives it the same authority as Quranic text.
The companion's foresight in documenting this concern reflects the meticulous care taken by early Muslims to preserve every aspect of the Shariah for future generations.