Punishment for Adultery
Total Hadiths 161
Authentic Hadiths on the Punishment for Adultery
These authentic prophetic narrations explicitly highlight the severe spiritual and legal consequences of committing illegal sexual intercourse. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explains that a person's faith is temporarily stripped away while committing this act, returning only if they truly repent. Legally, the rulings differ based on marital status; an unmarried person faces one hundred lashes and a year of exile, while a married person who confesses or is proven guilty faces the penalty of being stoned to death, according to Islamic scholars. These strict laws underscore how heavily Islam guards the sanctity of family and lineage.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، وَزَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، رضى الله عنهم أَنَّهُمَا قَالاَ إِنَّ رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَعْرَابِ أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنْشُدُكَ اللَّهَ إِلاَّ قَضَيْتَ لِي بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ. فَقَالَ الْخَصْمُ الآخَرُ وَهْوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنْهُ نَعَمْ فَاقْضِ بَيْنَنَا بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ، وَائْذَنْ لِي. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قُلْ ". قَالَ إِنَّ ابْنِي كَانَ عَسِيفًا عَلَى هَذَا، فَزَنَى بِامْرَأَتِهِ، وَإِنِّي أُخْبِرْتُ أَنَّ عَلَى ابْنِي الرَّجْمَ، فَافْتَدَيْتُ مِنْهُ بِمِائَةِ شَاةٍ وَوَلِيدَةٍ، فَسَأَلْتُ أَهْلَ الْعِلْمِ فَأَخْبَرُونِي أَنَّمَا عَلَى ابْنِي جَلْدُ مِائَةٍ، وَتَغْرِيبُ عَامٍ، وَأَنَّ عَلَى امْرَأَةِ هَذَا الرَّجْمَ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لأَقْضِيَنَّ بَيْنَكُمَا بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ، الْوَلِيدَةُ وَالْغَنَمُ رَدٌّ، وَعَلَى ابْنِكَ جَلْدُ مِائَةٍ وَتَغْرِيبُ عَامٍ، اغْدُ يَا أُنَيْسُ إِلَى امْرَأَةِ هَذَا فَإِنِ اعْتَرَفَتْ فَارْجُمْهَا ". قَالَ فَغَدَا عَلَيْهَا فَاعْتَرَفَتْ، فَأَمَرَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَرُجِمَتْ.
Narrated Abu Huraira and Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani: A bedouin came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's apostle! I ask you by Allah to judge My case according to Allah's Laws." His opponent, who was more learned than he, said, "Yes, judge between us according to Allah's Laws, and allow me to speak." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Speak." He (i .e. the bedouin or the other man) said, "My son was working as a laborer for this (man) and he committed illegal sexual intercourse with his wife. The people told me that it was obligatory that my son should be stoned to death, so in lieu of that I ransomed my son by paying one hundred sheep and a slave girl. Then I asked the religious scholars about it, and they informed me that my son must be lashed one hundred lashes, and be exiled for one year, and the wife of this (man) must be stoned to death." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, I will judge between you according to Allah's Laws. The slave-girl and the sheep are to be returned to you, your son is to receive a hundred lashes and be exiled for one year. You, Unais, go to the wife of this (man) and if she confesses her guilt, stone her to death." Unais went to that woman next morning and she confessed. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ordered that she be stoned to death.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2724, 2725In-book reference : Book 54, Hadith 13USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 50, Hadith 885
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، وَزَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، رضى الله عنهم أَنَّهُمَا قَالاَ إِنَّ رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَعْرَابِ أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنْشُدُكَ اللَّهَ إِلاَّ قَضَيْتَ لِي بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ. فَقَالَ الْخَصْمُ الآخَرُ وَهْوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنْهُ نَعَمْ فَاقْضِ بَيْنَنَا بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ، وَائْذَنْ لِي. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قُلْ ". قَالَ إِنَّ ابْنِي كَانَ عَسِيفًا عَلَى هَذَا، فَزَنَى بِامْرَأَتِهِ، وَإِنِّي أُخْبِرْتُ أَنَّ عَلَى ابْنِي الرَّجْمَ، فَافْتَدَيْتُ مِنْهُ بِمِائَةِ شَاةٍ وَوَلِيدَةٍ، فَسَأَلْتُ أَهْلَ الْعِلْمِ فَأَخْبَرُونِي أَنَّمَا عَلَى ابْنِي جَلْدُ مِائَةٍ، وَتَغْرِيبُ عَامٍ، وَأَنَّ عَلَى امْرَأَةِ هَذَا الرَّجْمَ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لأَقْضِيَنَّ بَيْنَكُمَا بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ، الْوَلِيدَةُ وَالْغَنَمُ رَدٌّ، وَعَلَى ابْنِكَ جَلْدُ مِائَةٍ وَتَغْرِيبُ عَامٍ، اغْدُ يَا أُنَيْسُ إِلَى امْرَأَةِ هَذَا فَإِنِ اعْتَرَفَتْ فَارْجُمْهَا ". قَالَ فَغَدَا عَلَيْهَا فَاعْتَرَفَتْ، فَأَمَرَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَرُجِمَتْ.
Narrated Abu Huraira and Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani: A bedouin came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's apostle! I ask you by Allah to judge My case according to Allah's Laws." His opponent, who was more learned than he, said, "Yes, judge between us according to Allah's Laws, and allow me to speak." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Speak." He (i .e. the bedouin or the other man) said, "My son was working as a laborer for this (man) and he committed illegal sexual intercourse with his wife. The people told me that it was obligatory that my son should be stoned to death, so in lieu of that I ransomed my son by paying one hundred sheep and a slave girl. Then I asked the religious scholars about it, and they informed me that my son must be lashed one hundred lashes, and be exiled for one year, and the wife of this (man) must be stoned to death." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, I will judge between you according to Allah's Laws. The slave-girl and the sheep are to be returned to you, your son is to receive a hundred lashes and be exiled for one year. You, Unais, go to the wife of this (man) and if she confesses her guilt, stone her to death." Unais went to that woman next morning and she confessed. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ordered that she be stoned to death.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2724, 2725In-book reference : Book 54, Hadith 13USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 50, Hadith 885
حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ بَقِيَّةَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ بْنِ سُفْيَانَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، بِإِسْنَادِ يَحْيَى وَمَعْنَاهُ قَالاَ " جَلْدُ مِائَةٍ وَالرَّجْمُ " .
A similar tradition has been transmitted by al-Hasan through a chain of Yahya and to the same effect. This version adds: They shall receive a hundred lashes and toned to death.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4416In-book reference : Book 40, Hadith 66English translation : Book 39, Hadith 4402
حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا صَدَقَةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَاصِمٍ الأَنْطَاكِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ، جَمِيعًا قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، - قَالَ هِشَامٌ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الشُّعَيْثِيُّ - عَنْ مَسْلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْجُهَنِيِّ، عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ اللَّجْلاَجِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِبَعْضِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ .
A part of tradition has also been transmitted by al-Lajlaj from the Prophet (ﷺ) through a different chain of narrators.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4436In-book reference : Book 40, Hadith 86English translation : Book 39, Hadith 4422
قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ حُدِّثْتُ عَنْ عَبْدِ الصَّمَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْوَارِثِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ سُلَيْمٍ، بِإِسْنَادِهِ نَحْوَهُ زَادَ ثُمَّ رَمَاهَا بِحَصَاةٍ مِثْلَ الْحُمُّصَةِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " ارْمُوا وَاتَّقُوا الْوَجْهَ " . فَلَمَّا طَفِئَتْ أَخْرَجَهَا فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهَا وَقَالَ فِي التَّوْبَةِ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ بُرَيْدَةَ .
Abu Dawud said: A similar tradition has been transmitted by Zakariya b. Salim through a different chain of narrators. This version adds: He (the Prophet) then threw a pebble like a gram at her. He then said: Throw at her and avoid her face. When se died, he took her out and prayed over her. About repentance he said similar to the tradition on Buraidah.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4444In-book reference : Book 40, Hadith 94English translation : Book 39, Hadith 4429
حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ بَقِيَّةَ، عَنْ هُشَيْمٍ، عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَالشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ فَدَعَا بِالشُّهُودِ فَشَهِدُوا .
A similar tradition has also been transmitted by Ibrahim and al-Sha’bi from the Prophet (ﷺ) through a different chain of narrators. But this version does not mention the words: He called the witnesses who testified.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4453In-book reference : Book 40, Hadith 103English translation : Book 39, Hadith 4438
حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ بَقِيَّةَ، عَنْ هُشَيْمٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شُبْرُمَةَ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، بِنَحْوٍ مِنْهُ .
A similar tradition has also been transmitted by al-Sha’bi through a different chain of narrators.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4454In-book reference : Book 40, Hadith 104English translation : Book 39, Hadith 4439
وَحَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَنْصُورٌ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ .
The above hadith is likewise narrated through another chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1690bIn-book reference : Book 29, Hadith 18USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 17, Hadith 4191
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي كِلاَهُمَا، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . غَيْرَ أَنَّ فِي، حَدِيثِهِمَا " الْبِكْرُ يُجْلَدُ وَيُنْفَى وَالثَّيِّبُ يُجْلَدُ وَيُرْجَمُ " . لاَ يَذْكُرَانِ سَنَةً وَلاَ مِائَةً .
This hadith has been reported on the authority of Qatada with the same chain of transmitters except with this variation that the unmarried is to be lashed and exiled, and the married one is to be lashed and stoned. There is neither any mention of one year nor that of one hundred.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1690dIn-book reference : Book 29, Hadith 20USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 17, Hadith 4193
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1691bIn-book reference : Book 29, Hadith 22USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 17, Hadith 4195
