"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stoned, Abu Bakr stoned, and I stoned. If I didn't dislike that I add to the Book of Allah. I would have written it in the Mushaf, for I fear that there will come a people and they will not find it in the Book of Allah, so they will disbelieve in it."
The Book on Legal Punishments (Al-Hudud)
Jami' at-Tirmidhi - Hadith Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1431
Hadith Text
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stoned, Abu Bakr stoned, and I stoned. If I didn't dislike that I add to the Book of Allah. I would have written it in the Mushaf, for I fear that there will come a people and they will not find it in the Book of Allah, so they will disbelieve in it."
Commentary on the Narration
This profound statement from 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) establishes the legal validity of stoning (rajm) for married adulterers through continuous practice (tawatur) of the early Muslim community. The Prophet, Abu Bakr, and 'Umar himself all implemented this punishment, demonstrating its established position in Islamic law.
'Umar's concern about not adding to the Qur'an reflects the utmost reverence for the divine text. The ruling of stoning was revealed separately as part of the Sunnah, which complements and explains the Qur'an. His apprehension about future generations highlights the importance of preserving both revelation sources - the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah.
Legal Implications
This hadith confirms that stoning remains a valid legal punishment in Islam for married persons who commit adultery, despite its absence from the written text of the Qur'an. The Sunnah serves as an independent source of legislation alongside the Qur'an.
Scholars emphasize that many Islamic rulings are established through the Sunnah alone, demonstrating that not all divine legislation is contained within the Qur'anic text. This principle safeguards the complete Shari'ah from being limited to written scripture alone.
Scholarly Perspective
Classical scholars like Imam al-Tirmidhi classified this hadith as authentic, and it has been widely accepted by all major schools of Islamic jurisprudence. The preservation of this ruling through continuous practice and multiple chains of narration ensures its authenticity and legal authority.
This narration serves as a crucial reminder of the complementary relationship between the Qur'an and Sunnah, and the danger of rejecting established Islamic practices merely because they are not explicitly mentioned in the Qur'anic text.