What is the hudud punishment for one who commits zina more than once?

The Shaykh : Please go ahead.

The questioner : Okay, if a man commits zina more than once and is caught on the last occasion, is he held accountable for what he caused before that, and is his punishment multiplied?

The Shaykh : I did not clarify the first word to what?

The questioner : If a man commits zina

The Shaykh : Commits zina

The questioner : Yes, and he was caught on the last occasion?

The Shaykh : Caught

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Then?

The questioner : Is his punishment multiplied in light of the times he committed it before this occasion?

The Shaykh : The matter differs here in several respects. First: Is he a muhsan (married) or not? Second: Is he confessing or is he being accused? If he is being accused, it is not easy to bring four witnesses for every instance. If he confesses, yes, the hudud is carried out on him for every instance. Yes, but it is not necessary, and indeed it is not permissible, to combine the hudud punishments on him at once, in the case where he is not a muhsan, for fear that he may perish. Is that clear?

The questioner : Yes, it is clear, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh: Okay

The questioner : And if the people whose daughters he violated demand that the hudud be carried out on him.

The Shaykh : So, determine now whether he is a muhsan or not.

The questioner : If he is not a muhsan.

The Shaykh : You got the answer.

The questioner : Yes, and if he is a muhsan in this case?

The Shaykh : He is stoned to death, and the matter is ended.

The questioner : And it will end, based on your statement that it may lead to his death.

The Shaykh : This is for the non-muhsan, yes.