What is the authenticity of the hadith: (The man who committed zina with a woman was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he found him to be an old man, so he gathered a bundle of firewood and struck him with it, and did not...

The questioner : There is a hadith, and I do not know its degree of authenticity?

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : It is that a man in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was advanced in age, and he committed zina with a woman. When he was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he found him to be advanced in age, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) took a bundle of firewood and struck him with it instead of stoning. Is this hadith authentic?

The Shaykh : No, the hadith is not about an old man; rather, he was sick, he was ill, and it was feared that if he were flogged, he would die.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : So this is reported, but the issue of being advanced in age, no.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.

Another questioner : He struck him with a bundle of firewood.

The Shaykh : A bundle of firewood, yes.