Is it obligatory to stone the married adulterer, or can stoning be replaced with something less painful?
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Q5: Is stoning actually obligatory when the crime of zina is established, or can it be replaced with a faster and less painful method of execution in some cases?
A 5: Determining the punishment for zina for the married person and the virgin, specifying their types and nature, and how they are carried out, are matters of worship (ta'abbudi) in which there is no room for human reasoning. Their reference is to Allah the Exalted, and He is the Most Knowing of His servants and of what benefits them in their religious and worldly affairs, and what protects them from evil and deters them from what harms them. He has prescribed the punishment of flogging for the one who commits zina and is a virgin, and the punishment of stoning for the one who commits zina and is married; to preserve chastity and honor, to protect lineage and the rights of the family and wealth associated with it, to purify environments from elements of corruption, and to prevent chaos, disorder, and the shedding of blood. Thus, the obligation of these punishments is wisdom and justice from Him,
and mercy and favor from Him, even if they involve pain and torment, and the public exposure of the one who committed this heinous act. For his danger to society is a greater affliction than the pain of the punishment he brought upon himself with his own hands. Allah the Exalted has commanded that a group of believers witness their punishment; for admonition and taking a lesson; and to increase the humiliation and psychological harm to him. He has forbidden us to be moved by compassion for those upon whom the hadd for zina is carried out. It is forbidden for Muslims to replace Allah's ruling regarding the punishment of adulterers, or others, out of compassion for them or to lighten it for them. For Allah is their Lord, and He is more deserving of them. He has ruled with flogging for the virgin and stoning for the married person, and He is the best of judges and the most merciful of the merciful. He is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
A 5: Determining the punishment for zina for the married person and the virgin, specifying their types and nature, and how they are carried out, are matters of worship (ta'abbudi) in which there is no room for human reasoning. Their reference is to Allah the Exalted, and He is the Most Knowing of His servants and of what benefits them in their religious and worldly affairs, and what protects them from evil and deters them from what harms them. He has prescribed the punishment of flogging for the one who commits zina and is a virgin, and the punishment of stoning for the one who commits zina and is married; to preserve chastity and honor, to protect lineage and the rights of the family and wealth associated with it, to purify environments from elements of corruption, and to prevent chaos, disorder, and the shedding of blood. Thus, the obligation of these punishments is wisdom and justice from Him,
and mercy and favor from Him, even if they involve pain and torment, and the public exposure of the one who committed this heinous act. For his danger to society is a greater affliction than the pain of the punishment he brought upon himself with his own hands. Allah the Exalted has commanded that a group of believers witness their punishment; for admonition and taking a lesson; and to increase the humiliation and psychological harm to him. He has forbidden us to be moved by compassion for those upon whom the hadd for zina is carried out. It is forbidden for Muslims to replace Allah's ruling regarding the punishment of adulterers, or others, out of compassion for them or to lighten it for them. For Allah is their Lord, and He is more deserving of them. He has ruled with flogging for the virgin and stoning for the married person, and He is the best of judges and the most merciful of the merciful. He is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.