Women who commit illegal sex, take the evidence of four witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them (i.e. women) to houses until death comes to them or Allah ordains for them some other way. And the two persons among you who commit adultery hurt them both. Quran 4:15-16

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Quran: Chapter 6, La Yuhibbu’, Sura: 4 ‘An-Nisa’ ‘The Women’, Verse: 15

Verse 15: And those of your women who commit illegal sex, take the evidence of four witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them (i.e. women) to houses until death comes to them or Allah ordains for them some other way.

Verse 16: And the two persons among you who commit adultery hurt them both. And if they repent and do righteous good deeds, leave them alone. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Explanation by Ibne Kathir:

The Adulteress is Confined in her house; A Command Later Abrogated.

At the beginning of Islam, the ruling was that if a woman commits adultery as stipulated by sufficient proof, she was confined to her home, without leave, until she died.

Allah said, And those of your women who commit illegal sexual intercourse, take the evidence of four witnesses from among you against them; and if they testify, confine them (i.e. women) to houses until death comes to them or Allah ordains for them some (other) way.

`Some other way’ mentioned here is the abrogation of this ruling that came later.

Ibn Abbas said, “The early ruling was confinement, until Allah sent down Surah An-Nur (Surah 24) which abrogated that ruling with the ruling of flogging (for fornication) or stoning to death (for adultery).” Similar was reported from Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Al-Hasan, Ata Al-Khurasani, Abu Salih, Qatadah, Zayd bin Aslam and Ad-Dahhak, and this is a matter that is agreed upon. Imam Ahmad recorded that Ubadah bin As-Samit said, “When the revelation descended upon the Messenger of Allah, it would affect him and his face would show signs of strain. One day, Allah sent down a revelation to him, and when the Messenger was relieved of its strain, he said,

Take from me: Allah has made some other way for them. The married with the married, the unmarried with the unmarried. The married gets a hundred lashes and stoning to death, while the unmarried gets a hundred lashes then banishment for a year.”

Muslim and the collectors of the Sunan recorded that Ubadah bin As-Samit said that the Prophet said, Take from me, take from me. Allah has made some other way for them: the (unmarried) gets a hundred lashes and banishment for one year, while the (married) gets a hundred lashes and stoning to death.

At-Tirmidhi said, “Hasan Sahih”. Allah said, And the two persons among you who commit illegal sexual intercourse, punish them both.

Ibn Abbas and Sa`id bin Jubayr said that; this punishment includes cursing, shaming them and beating them with sandals.

This was the ruling until Allah abrogated it with flogging or stoning, as we stated.

Mujahid said, “It was revealed about the case of two men who do it.” As if he was referring to the actions of the people of Lut, and Allah knows best.

The collectors of Sunan recorded that Ibn Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah said, Whoever you catch committing the act of the people of Lut (homosexuality), then kill both parties to the act.

Allah said, And if they repent and do righteous good deeds, by refraining from that evil act, and thereafter their actions become righteous. Leave them alone, do not verbally abuse them after that, since he who truly repents is just like he who has no sin.

Surely, Allah is Ever the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful.

The following is recorded in the Two Sahihs: When the slave-girl of one of you commits illegal sexual intercourse, let him flog her and not chastise her afterwards. Because the lashes she receives erase the sin that she has committed.

http://www.quran4u.com/Tafsir%20Ibn%20Kathir/004%20Nisa.htm#١٥

Explanation by samia2010oct:

At the time of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH the society was so low in morals and ethics that the adulterers and adulteresses did not use to hide from public. People used to know about the adulterers and adulteresses. These types of people were accepted in the society. As I understand in Verse 15 a woman who chooses to commit adultery (consensual sex) openly and people can see men going into her house and coming out of her house, then four witnesses must give the name of men with whom she does not have any other relationship other than illegal sex.

This Verse is not for ‘rape victims’ or ‘rape cases’, where the rapist is a sinner and an aggressor. He makes sure that the case remains unknown and is always against the will of the victim.

More over Verse 15 was abrogated, abolished and annulled by another Verse which is; Quran: Chapter 18 ‘Qad Aflaha’ ‘Successful indeed are’, Sura: 24 ‘An Nur’ ‘The Light’, Verse: 2: The, Zaniya, fornicatoress and the, Zani, fornicator, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity with hold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let the party of believers witness their punishment.

All types of illegal sex, whether between opposite sexes or between same sexes or with children or with animals, is strictly prohibited. Illegal sex is Big Sin, Gunaahe Kabira. For Big Sins, Gunaah e Kabira, there is the punishment of unbearable burning of whole body by Unending Fire. At this point we also remember that there are many sins for which the punishment by Allah starts in this world too and this sin is one of them.

Ashab e Kahaf, a movie dubbed in Urdu.

Ashab e Kahaf

Assalaam alaikum,

Just finished watching ‘Ashab e Kahaf’ tonight. It took many days to finish it. It is a very long but a very good movie. The original one is in Arabic language, but it is copied and then dubbed in Urdu.

The story parallels the Christian version, recounting the tale of a group of young believers who resisted the pressure from their people to worship others beside God, and took refuge in a cave, following which they fell asleep for a long time. When they woke up they thought that they had slept for only a day or so, and they sent one of them back to the city to buy food. His use of old silver coins revealed the presence of these youths to the town. Soon after their discovery, the People of the Cave (as the Qur’an calls them) died and the people of their town built a place of worship at the site of their burial (the cave).

http://www.quran4u.com/Ashab%20kahf%20(Urdu).htm

USA in 2006…. through my husbands eyes….

My husband enjoyed his stay in America. Although he had gone there for work but took a couple of off days to visit some places.

 

Those who like that, Fahisha, (the crime of) illegal sex should be circulated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment, in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you know not. Quran 24:19

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Quran: Chapter 18 ‘Qad Aflaha’ ‘Successful indeed are’, Sura: 24 ‘An Nur’ ‘The Light’, Verse: 19

Verse 19: Verily, those who like that, Fahisha, (the crime of) illegal sex should be circulated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment, in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you know not.

Explanation by Ibne Kathir:

Disciplining those who like that illegal sexual intercourse should be circulated among the believers

This is a third instance of discipline directed at those who hear evil talk, believe it to some extent, and start to spread it; they should not spread such talk or pass it on to others.

Allah says: Verily, those who like that Fahshah should be circulated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment….

Meaning, those who like to see evil talk about them (the believers) appear, they will have a painful torment ‘in this world’….. Means, because of the prescribed punishment,

…..and in the Hereafter. Because of the torment in Hell.

And Allah knows and you know not. Means, return the matter to Him and you will be guided.

Imam Ahmad recorded from Thawban that the Prophet said: Do not annoy the servants of Allah, nor abuse them, nor seek their hidden shortcomings. Whoever seeks out the faults of his Muslim brother, Allah will expose his faults and degrade him, even if he is hiding in his house.

http://www.quran4u.com/Tafsir%20Ibn%20Kathir/024%20Noor.htm

Explanation by samia2010oct: People in a society must talk about high morals and talk about stories of good discipline so that every person wants to lift self to self betterment and betterment of society on the whole. If a member of society experiences something bad or he/ she is hurt or experienced some loss, he/ she must approach the concerned authorities to find the remedy and to get justice than to just talk around and spread restlessness and chaos in society. It is Big Sin, Gunaahe Kabira, to circulate the stories about adulterous relationships and bad morals among people. For Big Sins, Gunaah e Kabira, there is the punishment of unbearable burning of whole body by Unending Fire. At this point we also remember that there are many sins for which the punishment by Allah starts in this world too and this sin is one of them.

And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever. Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous deeds; for such verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful. Quran 4:4-5

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Quran: Chapter 18 ‘Qad Aflaha’ ‘Successful indeed are’, Sura: 24 ‘An Nur’ ‘The Light’, Verse: 4-5

Verse 4: And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever. They indeed are the Fasiqun, the disobedient.

Verse 5: Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous deeds; for such verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.

Explanation by Ibne Kathir:

The prescribed punishment for slandering chaste women:

Allah commands in Verse 4: “And those who accuse chaste women, ….” This Ayah states the prescribed punishment for making false accusations against chaste women, i.e., those who are free, adult and chaste.

If the person who is falsely accused is a man, the same punishment of flogging also applies.

If the accuser produces evidence that what he is saying is true, then the punishment does not apply.

Allah said in Verse 4: “…… and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever. They indeed are the rebellious.”

If the accuser cannot prove that what he is saying is true, then three rulings apply to him:

(firstly) that he should be flogged with eighty stripes,

(secondly) that his testimony should be rejected forever, and

(thirdly) that he should be labeled as a rebellious who is not of good character, whether in the sight of Allah or of mankind.

Explaining the Repentance of the one who makes a false accusation:

Then Allah says in Verse 5: “Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous deeds; (for such) verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

This exception refers to the second and third rulings mentioned above.

The flogging has been carried out regardless of whether he repents or persists, and after that there is no further punishment, as is agreed among the scholars.

If he repents, then his testimony may be accepted, and he is no longer to be regarded as a rebellious.

This was the view of Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib — the leader of the Tabi`in — and also a group among the Salaf.

Ash-Sha`bi and Ad-Dahhak said, “His testimony cannot be accepted even if he does repent, unless he himself admits that he said something false, in which case his testimony may be accepted.” And Allah knows best.

http://www.quran4u.com/Tafsir%20Ibn%20Kathir/024%20Noor.htm

Explanation by samia2010oct: As I understand Verse 4 is for the protection of the honor of the women. Honor is supreme in the Exalted Eyes of Allah so if a person tries even by the word of mouth to dishonor a woman, he/ she must be flogged eighty stripes if he/ she cannot produce four witnesses against the person they accuse of adultery, consensual sex. ‘Production of witnesses’ is needed for the flogging of the accuser, the person who accuses a chaste person of adultery. This Verse is not for punishing the ’rape victims’ and this Verse does not apply to ‘rape cases’, where the rapist makes sure that the case remains unknown and the rape is always against the will of the victim.  It is Big Sin to accuse a chaste person, especially chaste women, of adultery. For Big Sins, Gunaah e Kabira, there is the punishment of unbearable burning of whole body by Unending Fire. At this point we also remember that there are many sins for which the punishment by Allah starts in this world too and this sin is one of them.

The adulterer (Zani) marries not but an adulteress (Zaniyah); and the adulteress (Zaniyah) none marries her except an adulterer (Mushrik). Such a thing is forbidden to the believers. Quran 24:3

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Quran: Chapter 18 ‘Qad Aflaha’ ‘Successful indeed are’, Sura: 24 ‘An Nur’ ‘The Light’, Verse: 3

Verse 3: The adulterer (fornicator, Zani) marries not but an adulteress (fornicatoress, Zaniyah or a Mushrikah); and the adulteress (fornicatoress Zaniyah or a Mushrikah) none marries her except an adulterer (fornicator or a Mushrik). Such a thing is forbidden to the believers (of Islamic Monotheism)

Explanation by samia2010oct: At the time of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH the society was so low in ethics that the adulterers and adulteresses did not used to hide from public. People used to know about the adulterers and adulteresses. These types of peoples were accepted in the society. Allah knows that believing people cannot live happily with adulterous people. So Allah tells in Quran that adulterer must marry the adulteress and vice versa. The adulterers and adulteresses must not marry believing men and believing women, Momins and Mominats.

It is Big Sin to marry a believing man with an adulteress or marry a believing woman with an adulterer. For Big Sins, Gunaah e Kabira, there is the punishment of unbearable burning of whole body by Unending Fire. At this point we also remember that there are many sins for which the punishment by Allah starts in this world too and this sin is one of them.

Explanation by Ibne Kathir: Allah tells: الزَّانِي لَا يَنكِحُ إلَّا زَانِيَةً أَوْ مُشْرِكَةً …   

The Zani marries not but a Zaniyah or a Mushrikah; Here Allah tells us that the Zani (male who is guilty of illegal sex) does not have intercourse except with a Zaniyah (female who is guilty of illegal sex) or a Mushrikah (female idolator), meaning that no one would go along with him in this action except a sinful woman who is also guilty of Zina, or a Mushrikah who does not think it is unlawful. By the same token, … وَالزَّانِيَةُ لَا يَنكِحُهَا إِلَّا زَانٍ …and the Zaniyah, none marries her except a Zani, a sinful man who is guilty of fornication,  … أَوْ مُشْرِكٌ … or a Mushrik (a man) who does not think it is unlawful. … وَحُرِّمَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٣﴾   Such a thing is forbidden to the believers, meaning, indulging in this, or marrying prostitutes, or marrying chaste women to immoral men.

Qatadah and Muqatil bin Hayyan said: “Allah forbade the believers from marrying prostitutes.” This Ayah is like the Ayah (about marrying slave-girls):

  مُحْصَنَـت غَيْرَ مُسَـفِحَـتٍ وَلاَ مُتَّخِذَاتِ أَخْدَانٍ    

they should be chaste, not committing illegal sex, nor taking boyfriends. Sura ‘An-Nisa’ 4:25 And His saying:

 مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحِينَ وَلاَ مُتَّخِذِى أَخْدَانٍ

desiring chastity not committing illegal sexual intercourse, nor taking them as girlfriends. Sura Al-Maidah 5:5

Imam Ahmad recorded that: Abdullah bin `Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, said that a man among the believers asked the Messenger of Allah for permission (to marry) a woman known as Umm Mahzul, who used to commit adultery, and who had stated the condition that she should spend on him. So he asked the Messenger of Allah for permission, or he mentioned the matter to him. The Messenger of Allah recited to him:

الزَّانِى لاَ يَنكِحُ إِلاَّ زَانِيَةً أَوْ مُشْرِكَةً وَالزَّانِيَةُ لاَ يَنكِحُهَآ إِلاَّ زَانٍ أَوْ مُشْرِكٌ وَحُرِّمَ ذلِكَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

The Zani marries not but a Zaniyah or a Mushrikah; and the Zaniyah, none marries her except Zani or a Mushrik. Such a thing is forbidden to the believers.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said,

لَا يَنْكِحُ الزَّانِي الْمَجْلُودُ إِلَّا مِثْلَهُ

A Zani who has been flogged should not marry anyone except someone who is like him. A similar report was recorded by Abu Dawud in his Sunan.

http://www.quran4u.com/Tafsir%20Ibn%20Kathir/024%20Noor.htm

The, Zaniya, fornicatress and the, Zani, fornicator, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity with hold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let the party of believers witness their punishment. Quran 24:2

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Quran: Chapter 18 ‘Qad Aflaha’ ‘Successful indeed are’, Sura: 24 ‘An Nur’ ‘The Light’, Verse: 2

Verse 2: The, Zaniya, fornicatoress and the, Zani, fornicator, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity with hold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let the party of believers witness their punishment.

Difficult words: Fornicator: refers to consensual sexual intercourse between two people not married to each other. Flog: whip, lash.

Explanation by samia2010oct: All types of illegal sex, whether between opposite sexes or between same sexes or with children or with animals, is included in this Verse. For unwedded female fornicatoress the punishment by Allah for illegal sex is one hundred lashes and confinement at her own home till she repents. After fornicator and fornicatoress repent and after the lashes they endure their honor in society is re-established in Islam and no one from society is allowed to verbally abuse them or talk about the punishment they endured. If anyone talks that way he or she commits Big Sin, Gunaahe Kabira.

It is Big Sin Gunaahe Kabira to commit illegal sex. For Big Sins, Gunaah e Kabira, there is the punishment of unbearable burning of whole body by Unending Fire. At this point we also remember that there are many sins for which the punishment by Allah starts in this world too and this sin is one of them.

Explanation by Ibne Kathir: This honorable Ayah contains the ruling on the law of retaliation for the person who commits illegal sex, and details of the punishment.

Such a person will either be unmarried, meaning that he/ she has never been married, or he/ she will be married, meaning that he/ she has had intercourse within the bounds of a lawful marriage, and he/ she is free, adult and of sound mind.

As for the virgin who is unwedded, the prescribed punishment is one hundred stripes, as stated in this Ayah.

In addition to this the unwedded male is to be banished from his homeland for one year if the person who is guilty of illegal sex is a virgin and unmarried, he should be banished in addition to being given one hundred stripes.

But if married, meaning he/ she has had intercourse within the bounds of lawful marriage, and he/ she is free, adult and of sound mind, then he/ she should be stoned to death.

Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allah, Meaning, with a ruling prescribed by Allah.

So the meaning of the Ayah is: “Do not feel too sorry for them where the laws of Allah are established.”

This does not mean that we should not naturally feel pity when carrying out the punishment. What is prohibited here is the kind of pity that may make the judge ignore the punishment altogether. This is what is not permitted for the judge.

And let a party of the believers witness their punishment.

This is more humiliating for the people who are guilty of illegal sex, if they are flogged in front of the people. This is because it is more effective as a deterrent and it conveys the sense of scandal and rebuke.

http://www.quran4u.com/Tafsir%20Ibn%20Kathir/024%20Noor.htm