86/38. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6842 — Legal Verdict
If someone accuses his wife or another person’s wife of committing illegal sexual intercourse
Hadith About a Zina Dispute Judged by Allah's Law
Sahih Bukhari : 6842
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6842
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، وَزَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، أَنَّهُمَا أَخْبَرَاهُ أَنَّ رَجُلَيْنِ اخْتَصَمَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا اقْضِ بَيْنَنَا بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ. وَقَالَ الآخَرُ وَهْوَ أَفْقَهُهُمَا أَجَلْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَاقْضِ بَيْنَنَا بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ، وَأْذَنْ لِي أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ. قَالَ " تَكَلَّمْ ". قَالَ إِنَّ ابْنِي كَانَ عَسِيفًا عَلَى هَذَا ـ قَالَ مَالِكٌ وَالْعَسِيفُ الأَجِيرُ ـ فَزَنَى بِامْرَأَتِهِ، فَأَخْبَرُونِي أَنَّ عَلَى ابْنِي الرَّجْمَ، فَافْتَدَيْتُ مِنْهُ بِمِائَةِ شَاةٍ وَبِجَارِيَةٍ لِي، ثُمَّ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ أَهْلَ الْعِلْمِ فَأَخْبَرُونِي أَنَّ مَا عَلَى ابْنِي جَلْدُ مِائَةٍ وَتَغْرِيبُ عَامٍ، وَإِنَّمَا الرَّجْمُ عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَمَا وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لأَقْضِيَنَّ بَيْنَكُمَا بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ، أَمَّا غَنَمُكَ وَجَارِيَتُكَ فَرَدٌّ عَلَيْكَ ". وَجَلَدَ ابْنَهُ مِائَةً وَغَرَّبَهُ عَامًا، وَأَمَرَ أُنَيْسًا الأَسْلَمِيَّ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ امْرَأَةَ الآخَرِ، فَإِنِ اعْتَرَفَتْ فَارْجُمْهَا، فَاعْتَرَفَتْ فَرَجَمَهَا.
Abu Huraira and Zaid bin Khalid Narrated from:
Two men had a dispute in the presence of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). One of them said, "Judge us according to Allah's Laws." The other who was more wise said, "Yes, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), judge us according to Allah's Laws and allow me to speak (first)" The Prophet (ﷺ) 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 Messenger (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) 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.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6842, 6843In-book reference : Book 86, Hadith 65USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 82, Hadith 826
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6842
This hadith about a zina dispute judged by Allah's law gives a full legal case. Two men disputed before Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. One asked for judgment by Allah's laws, and the other asked permission to explain. He said his son had been a laborer and had committed illegal sexual intercourse with the other man's wife. He had paid one hundred sheep and a slave girl as ransom, then asked learned people and was told his son should be flogged one hundred stripes and exiled for one year, while the woman faced Rajm. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم returned the ransom, had the son punished and exiled, and ordered Unais to act if the woman confessed. She confessed and was stoned.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم heard the explanation before giving the judgment.
- The ransom of sheep and slave girl was returned.
- The son's punishment was flogging and one year exile.
- The woman's punishment followed her confession in the report.
