Ruling on Intercourse with an Animal

Question:
What is the ruling for one who has intercourse with an animal?

Answer:
There is a hadith regarding the animal, but there is disagreement in its chain of narration that he should be killed. It was also reported from Ibn Abbas that he should be given a discretionary punishment, because the chain of narration alone is not sufficient, as there is disagreement regarding the killing of the animal. The position of the scholars, the most precise among the scholars, is that he should be given a discretionary punishment if he has intercourse with an animal, whether it is a donkey, a cow, a goat, or otherwise; he should be given a discretionary punishment. Some scholars said: he should be killed based on the hadith.
However, a group of scholars held the view that he should be given a discretionary punishment, because the hadith is not strong, and its chain of narration does not encourage killing the person, as there is some disagreement in it. The original principle is the protection of the believer, so he must be given a discretionary punishment in the form of lashes, imprisonment, or whatever else the one in authority deems a deterrent against this heinous act. We ask Allah for safety and well-being.