What is the punishment for fornication and adultery in Islam?
Regarding this issue in Islam, we see three Noble Verses that deal with it.
Let us look at Noble Verses 4:15-16 "If any of your women are guilty of lewdness, Take the evidence of four (Reliable) witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them to houses until death do claim them, or God ordain for them some (other) way.
If two men among you are guilty of lewdness, punish them both. If they repent and amend, Leave them alone; for God is Oft-returning, Most Merciful."
Let us look at Noble Verse 24:2 "The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by God, if ye believe in God and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment."
Noble Verses 4:15-16 above, are fully explained in my Gays and Lesbians in Islam article.
Noble Verse 24:2 above clearly talks about the woman and the man both committing adultery together. It is talking about two different genders committing adultery. The English translation is not accurate because it said "guilty of adultery or fornication...". The Noble Verse in Arabic says "Al-zaniyatu wa al-zanee....", which means the "The woman and the man who are guilty of act of illegal sexual intercourse..." The act of illegal sexual intercourse is general, and can be applied to both groups of married and single people.
There are however Sayings of our Prophet peace be upon him that order the stoning to death those who are married and commit adultery:
Punishment for Adultery according to the Sayings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him:
Before we start, we must first of all know that no one knows whether the laws of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him came before or after the Revelation of Noble Verse 24:2. This would make the difference between flogging the adulterer 100 stripes and stoning him to death!
Narrated Ash-Shaibani: "I asked 'Abdullah bin Abi 'Aufa about the Rajam (stoning somebody to death for committing illegal sexual intercourse). He replied, 'The Prophet carried out the penalty of Rajam (stoning to death),' I asked, 'Was that before or after the revelation of Surat-an-Nur? (Noble Verse 24:2)' He replied, 'I do not know.' (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Punishment of Disbelievers at War with Allah and His Apostle, Volume 8, Book 82, Number 824)"
So according to the narration, no one is certain on when the Noble Verse 24:2 was revealed. This should be more than enough for us to apply the punishment in the Noble Verse for all cases of adultery; for single and married people.
The laws of our Prophet peace be upon him:
'Ubada b. as-Samit reported: "Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) 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. (Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 17, The Book Pertaining to Punishments Prescribed by Islam (Kitab Al-Hudud), Number 4191)"
Jabir b. Samura reported: "As he was being brought to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) I saw Ma'iz b. Malik-a short-statured person with strong sinews, having no cloak around him. He bore witness against his own self four times that he had committed adultery, whereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Perhaps (you kissed her or embraced her). He said: No. by God, one deviating (from the path of virtue) has committed adultery. He then got him stoned (to death), and then delivered the address: Behold, as we set out for Jihad in the cause of Allah, one of you lagged behind and shrieked like the bleating of a male goat, and gave a small quantity of milk. By Allah, in case I get hold of him, I shall certainly punish him. (Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 17, The Book Pertaining to Punishments Prescribed by Islam (Kitab Al-Hudud), Number 4198)"
"It has been narrated on the authority of Amir b. Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas who said: I wrote (a letter) to Jabir b. Samura and sent it to him through my servant Nafi', asking him to inform me of something he had heard from the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). He wrote to me (in reply): I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say on Friday evening, the day on which al-Aslami was stoned to death (for committing adultery): The Islamic religion will continue until the Hour has been established, or you have been ruled over by twelve Caliphs, all of them being from the Quraish. also heard him say: A small force of the Muslims will capture the white palace, the police of the Persian Emperor or his descendants. I also heard him say: Before the Day of Judgment there will appear (a number of) impostors. You are to guard against them. I also heard him say: When God grants wealth to any one of you, he should first spend it on himself and his family (and then give it in charity to the poor). I heard him (also) say: I will be your forerunner at the Cistern (expecting your arrival). (Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 20, The Book on Government (Kitab Al-Imara), Number 4483)"
Narrated Abu Huraira and Zaid bin Khalid: "Two men had a dispute in the presence of Allah's Apostle. One of them said, "Judge us according to Allah's Laws." The other who was more wise said, "Yes, Allah's Apostle, judge us according to Allah's Laws and allow me to speak (first)" The Prophet said to him, 'Speak " He said, "My son was a laborer for this man, and he committed illegal sexual intercourse with his wife, and the people told me that my son should be stoned to death, but I have given one-hundred sheep and a slave girl as a ransom (expiation) for my son's sin. Then I asked the religious learned people (about It), and they told me that my son should he flogged one-hundred stripes and should be exiled for one year, and only the wife of this man should be stoned to death " Allah's Apostle said, "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, I will judge you according to Allah's Laws: O man, as for your sheep and slave girl, they are to be returned to you." Then the Prophet had the man's son flogged one hundred stripes and exiled for one year, and ordered Unais Al-Aslami to go to the wife of the other man, and if she confessed, stone her to death. She confessed and was stoned to death. (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Punishment of Disbelievers at War with Allah and His Apostle, Volume 8, Book 82, Number 826)"
Adultery punishment in the Bible's Old and New Testaments:
The following Verses are from the NIV Bible:
Exodus 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery."
Deuteronomy 22:22 "If a man is found sleeping with another man's wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die."
Leviticus 20:10 "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death."
Proverbs 6:32 "But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself." He destroys himself by being put to death as shown above.
Leviticus 21:9 "And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire." Why should only a daughter of a priest gets burnt to death if she profanes herself? Why can't this law apply to all daughters?
Deuteronomy 25:11-12 "If two men are fighting and the wife of one of them comes to rescue her husband from his assailant, and she reaches out and seizes him by his private parts, you shall cut off her hand. Show her no pity." This doesn't make any sense what so ever! Why should the woman get her hands cut off for defending her husband? It's not like she was cheating on him or anything like that!
We clearly see that adultery causes death from the Verses above. Let us see what Jesus peace be upon him said about adultery:
The following Verses are from the NIV Bible:
Matthew 19:9 "I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." Wouldn't this cause the man to be put to death?
Mark 10:11 "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her." Again, wouldn't he then be put to death since he would have committed adultery?
Mark 10:12 "And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." Same question I ask about the women who are considered have committed adultery. Wouldn't they be put to death also?
Luke 16:18 "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."
My question here is: Would an adulterer in the New Testament be put to death?
Keep in mind that when Jesus gave the above laws, he gave them during the time when he spoke highly of the Old Testament's Law:
Jesus orders Christians to follow the Old Testament's laws: "Do not think that I [Jesus] have come to abolish the Law (the Old Testament) or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke or a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law (the Old Testament) until everything is accomplished. (Matthew 5:17-18)" It is quite clear from these verses from the New Testament that Jesus peace be upon him did honor the Old Testament and did say that every single "letter" of it has to be honored, followed and fulfilled.
"Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 'The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.' (Matthew 23:1-3)" We clearly see in these verses that Jesus peace be upon him did not prohibit for the Old Testament to be followed, but only warned his followers to not follow it the way the current religious leaders of the Law (the Jewish Rabies) were following it.
So according to Jesus peace be upon him, the adulterer in the New Testament must be put to death.
Question to Christians:
I noticed here by living in the US, that more than 50% of the population is divorced. People divorce each others, and marry other people and still attend Churches and consider themselves Christians.
My question to those people is: Aren't you violating the laws of the Bible?
What about John 8:1-11? Does it really justify fornication, adultery and pornography as many Christians believe?
Let us look at John 8:1-11:
Many Christians use these verses to justify fornication and pornography. We all know well that the Bible contains the most disgusting Graphic X-Rated Pornography. And the use of John 8:1-11 does indeed raise a great concern to Morals and Ethics.
For one thing, it is the biggest mistake for the citizens of the Christian Whoredom to use John 8:1-11 as an excuse for the sexual sins they commit against GOD Almighty. When Jesus peace be upon him refused to stone the woman, HE ACTUALLY REFUSED TO BE A HYPOCRITE!
Have he ordered the stoning of the woman, he would have been indeed a hypocrite, because people in charge of authority back then were not following anything in the Law properly. He even called them "hypocrites" in several occasions; see Matthew 6:2, 5, 16, Matthew 15:7, Matthew 22:18, Matthew 23:13, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29, Matthew 24:51, Mark 7:6 and Luke 13:15 in the Bible. So why punish the weakest citizen and leave the cause of the corruption?! That was the Message that Jesus peace be upon him gave to the people back then. Notice that John 8:6 clearly says "They were using this question as a trap", which clearly means that the situation of John 8:1-11 was no more than a trap to make Jesus peace be upon him make a mistake. That's why HE DIDN'T ALLOW THEM TO OUT SMART HIM AND FORCE HIM TO GIVE ANY JUDGMENT AGAINST THE WOMAN. Jesus peace be upon him didn't in anyway nullify the Laws of GOD Almighty regarding punishment for adultery.
Keep in mind that Jesus spoke highly of the Old Testament's Law:
Jesus orders Christians to follow the Old Testament's laws: "Do not think that I [Jesus] have come to abolish the Law (the Old Testament) or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke or a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law (the Old Testament) until everything is accomplished. (Matthew 5:17-18)" It is quite clear from these verses from the New Testament that Jesus peace be upon him did honor the Old Testament and did say that every single "letter" of it has to be honored, followed and fulfilled.
"Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 'The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.' (Matthew 23:1-3)" We clearly see in these verses that Jesus peace be upon him did not prohibit for the Old Testament to be followed, but only warned his followers to not follow it the way the current religious leaders of the Law (the Jewish Rabies) were following it.
Most Christians don't consider those who divorce and marry again as committing adultery. Some Christians don't consider fornication as a sin in the Bible:
Let's look at the following examples from the Bible:
Mark 10:11 "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her."
Mark 10:12 "And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."
More than 50% of Western Christians are divorced. Most of them have second marriages already, and they go to churches and act normally. They never consider their second or third marriages as invalid marriages. They never consider their lives with their new spouses as "adultery". The ones who never marry again after their first marriage, they go and live with their boy-friends or girl-friends as if they were married.
If you have absolutely no problem with fornication or adultery because of your mis-interpretation of John 8:1-11, then tell me, how is your Bible then supposed to stop some one from sleeping with his own mother, sister or father's former wife?
Since we are all humans (i.e. sinners), then using your dubious interpretation of John 8:1-11, then no one should be prevented!
Also, how is your Bible then supposed to prevent an uncle from sleeping with his own niece or nephew?
How is your Bible supposed to prevent men from marrying other men and women from marrying other women? Oh, wait, doesn't this already exist among Christians in the State of California, USA? The Christian men over there are allowed to marry other Christian men and the Christian women are allowed to marry other Christian women. They even have their Gays and Lesbians Churches.
Important Note: If what's right and what's wrong is determined by our society only and not by the Bible, then what is the use and the point of having the Bible then?
Is this a fair question?
Where do you draw the boundaries for sinning in the Pornographic Bible, to help the Righteous be guided and given the proper directions to remain straight and not be led astray in the Christian Whoredom?
Please visit Why do some Muslims call Americans and Westerners "Great Satan"?
If it's ok in Christianity to have sex before marriage, ok to live with someone without marriage (like boyfriend or girlfriend), ok to have anal sex with the same gender (see www.godlovesfags.com and see the thousands of Christians who support them through their guest book) or the other gender, ok for the brother to sleep with his sister, ok for people to expose most of their bodies (by wearing bikinis for instance), ok to spread wickedness among society, then:
WHAT'S NOT OK TO DO THEN????!!!! AND WHY DID GOD DROWN TO DEATH THE PEOPLE OF LOTT AND NOAH THEN? DIDN'T THEY DO THE SAME EXACT THING AS THE CHRISTIANS ARE DOING TODAY FROM SODOMY, AND ILLEGAL SEX WITHOUT MARRIAGE??!!
The Bible is contradicting itself regarding adultery:
For those Christians who think that John 8:1-11 is a justification to their Whoredom (i.e., committing illegal sex openly and freely as mentioned above), then let me tell you that your Bible is ambiguous, self-contradicting and unclear.
Let's assume for a second and go along with their arguments that John 8:1-11 indeed justifies illegal sex, then what about the following verse that clearly contradicts it?
Jesus killed the adulteress' children:
"So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. (From the NIV Bible, Revelation 2:22-23)"
All what the woman was doing is committing adultery, which is something very common among most Christians in the West today anyway with their "boyfriend-girlfriend living together" to "one night stand" to "having sex with his date or girlfriend", etc... as clearly mentioned above.
Of course Adultery is punishable in Islam. But I wonder why did Jesus kill the woman's innocent children? What did they do? All this to prove something to the Churches?! I thought you should love your enemies and forgive them! It's not like the woman had killed anybody!! Let alone her children didn't have any part of Jesus and their mother! There is no record in the Bible of these children committing any crimes or sins!
The Bible, with all due respect to Christians, is ridiculously ambiguous and self-contradicting! There is always room for finding excuses for wickedness as some extreme Christians do such as the Homosexuals and the Sexually Liberated. There is no solid ground for anything in the Bible. When you think you found an answer for a question or an issue, you can almost always find a contradiction or conflicting verse that nullifies it. Take the following example:
Is circumcision allowed in the Bible? Jesus says Yes. Paul says No. Go figure!!
In Islam, if stoning to death is the punishment for the married people who commit adultery, then how come Allah Almighty never mentioned it in the Noble Quran?
Playing with people's lives is not a joke. There is a big difference between punishing someone for doing something wrong, and sentencing someone to death. Let alone executing that person in the most painful way via stoning him/her to death. My knowledge about the Sayings of our beloved Prophet peace be upon him is enough to tell you that the validity (being 100% sure that it was indeed our Prophet who created the law) of the Sayings of our beloved Prophet peace be upon him regarding this issue are all agreed upon by the Muslim scholars. They agree that Prophet Muhammad did say such Sayings, and they are not doubtful.
All of the doubtful Sayings are marked either "doubtful" or "unsupported" or "not agreed upon." But the Sayings that I presented above are marked "agreed upon," because I heard them being narrated by scholars on TV before. So doubting the validity of the Sayings above is not right. But however, as was shown above, no one is certain whether Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him practiced his Sayings before or after Noble Verse 24:2 was revealed. This to some people would mean the difference between getting flogged 100 stripes and being stoned to death. It's a difference between life and death!
Also, similar to the situation regarding Apostates in Islam, where my article proves that Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) Sayings were only temporary Sayings and not Laws that must be applied for all times and all places like the Laws of the Noble Quran, I strongly believe that since Allah Almighty did not send down this law as a Revelation (which would then unquestionably be applied for all times and all places), then there is something just not quite right about applying Prophet Muhammad's laws regarding this issue for all times and all places.
Let us analyze the first Saying that I listed above for our beloved Prophet. Notice that he clearly said "Allah has ordained a way...", which means Allah Almighty decided to pass a law or enforce a law. However, Allah Almighty did not ordain through a Divine Revelation. He ordained through the Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (by inspiring him). But according to Allah Almighty, if things were revealed in the Noble Quran only, then we must not question their credibility. Everything else is questionable.
Let us look at Noble Verse 5:101 "O ye who believe! Ask not questions about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. But if ye ask about things when the Qur'an is being revealed, they will be made plain to you, God will forgive those: for God is Oft-forgiving, Most Forbearing." Here in this Noble Verse, we clearly see that Allah Almighty says that if the Muslims during the Prophet's time had questions or issues during the Noble Quran's revelations, then Allah Almighty will make it clear for them.
Since Allah Almighty chose not to reveal any law regarding executing those who commit adultery, even though He, the Almighty, did elaborate on the subject of "illegal sex", then I personally believe that the law that was inspired to Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him came only for a fixed period of time to solve a social problem or issue that he faced. It is not for all times and all places, because it is not a Noble Quranic Revelation.
Allah Almighty was clear about the Noble Quran being the Supreme Law that clearly eliminates all doubts and shows us the right from the wrong, and it is the Law that we must follow without a doubt:
"Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong)....(The Noble Quran, 2:185)"
"Say: 'What thing is most weighty in evidence?' Say: 'God is witness between me and you; This Qur'an hath been revealed to me by inspiration, that I may warn you and all whom it reaches....' (The Noble Quran, 6:19)"
"We have not instructed the (Prophet) in Poetry, nor is it meet for him: this is no less than a Message and a Qur'an making things clear. (The Noble Quran, 36:69)"
"That this is indeed a Qur'an Most Honourable, (The Noble Quran, 56:77)"
"Had We sent down this Qur'an on a mountain, verily, thou wouldst have seen it humble itself and cleave asunder for fear of God. Such are the similitudes which We propound to men, that they may reflect. (The Noble Quran, 59:21)"
No where in the Noble Quran we see any direct order to follow Prophet Muhammad's Sayings for all times and all places. Yes Allah Almighty did order the Muslims to follow Prophet Muhammad's Sayings before: "O ye who believe! Obey God, and obey the Apostle, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to God and His Apostle, if ye do believe in God and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination. (The Noble Quran, 4:59)"
But the laws of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and the people who have authority among us [our Muslim scholars] are always subject to change, because they are not Divine Revelations. That's why Allah Almighty said about the Noble Quran "...clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong)...(2:185)"
No law on this earth except the Law of the Noble Quran is "clear for guidance and judgment." All other laws are subject to change.
Allah Almighty is the Most Merciful and Most Forgiving:
"God forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth; to set up partners with God is to devise a sin Most heinous indeed. (The Noble Quran, 4:48)"
"If any one does evil or wrongs his own soul but afterwards seeks God's forgiveness, he will find God Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (The Noble Quran, 4:110)"
Narrated Abu Dhar: "Allah's Apostle said, 'Someone came to me from my Lord and gave me the news (or good tidings) that if any of my followers dies worshipping none (in any way) along with Allah, he will enter Paradise.' I asked, 'Even if he committed illegal sexual intercourse (adultery) and theft?' He replied, 'Even if he committed illegal sexual intercourse (adultery) and theft.' (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 23, Funerals (Al-Janaa'iz), Number 329)"
"Narrated 'Abdullah: Allah's Apostle said, 'Anyone who dies worshipping others along with Allah will definitely enter the Fire.' I said, 'Anyone who dies worshipping none along with Allah will definitely enter Paradise.' (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 23, Funerals (Al-Janaa'iz), Number 330)"
So what about the punishment for the married people who later become gays/lesbians and commit adultery with the same sex?
My answer is that the punishment for the married people who committed adultery applies to them in this case.
Back to Women in Islam and Christianity section.
Double will be the punishment and humiliation for fornication in Hell.
The Mercy of Allah Almighty and the wisdom of the age of 40 in Islam.