The Ruling on Carrying Out the Punishment for Zina Based on Testimony

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, is this statement authentic from Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him), that he said that zina based on testimony did not occur up to his time, and that the punishment was only carried out based on confession?

Answer:
This was during the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes, during the time of the Messenger, it was not carried out based on testimony. However, Allah mentioned this in the Qur'an, but they did not bring four witnesses. All those for whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) carried out the punishment did so based on confession, all based on confession: Ma'iz, the woman of al-Ghamid, and the Jew, all based on confession. And he said: As for after the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), it was carried out by both means. As for the statement of Shaykh al-Islam, I do not know; this needs to be reviewed. But I do not think that from the time of the Messenger to the time of the Shaykh, it was carried out except by confession. I do not think so. Yes.