The Misconception About The Misconception About Stoning Adulterers in IslamStoning Adulterers in Islam

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OutlineOutline Why this Subject?Why this Subject? MisconceptionsMisconceptions Defining AdulteryDefining Adultery Adultery Rational QuizAdultery Rational Quiz Consequences of AdulteryConsequences of Adultery How to prove a Case of AdulteryHow to prove a Case of Adultery Who gets Stoned?Who gets Stoned? The Court SentenceThe Court Sentence Where is Stoning Mentioned in the Qur’an?Where is Stoning Mentioned in the Qur’an? Adultery & Stoning in Previous RevelationsAdultery & Stoning in Previous Revelations ConclusionConclusion

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Why this Subject?Why this Subject?

Non-Muslim Western Cultures:Non-Muslim Western Cultures: Consider Stoning to be an extremist lawConsider Stoning to be an extremist law Need rational reasoning to comprehendNeed rational reasoning to comprehend

Muslim Scholars:Muslim Scholars: Need rational reasoning to convinceNeed rational reasoning to convince Lack knowledge in the jurisprudence of Lack knowledge in the jurisprudence of

StoningStoning

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MisconceptionsMisconceptions

““How on Earth have we gone from a How on Earth have we gone from a 'maximum' punishment for public adultery 'maximum' punishment for public adultery of 100 floggings, to a barbaric and cruel of 100 floggings, to a barbaric and cruel penalty of death by stoning?”penalty of death by stoning?”

““I would not accept a religion that stones I would not accept a religion that stones adulterers!”adulterers!”

““Islam is the only religion that stones Islam is the only religion that stones adulterers.”adulterers.”

““Do you say, “God is great” when you Do you say, “God is great” when you stone adulterers?”stone adulterers?”

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DefinitionsDefinitions

AdulteryAdultery: Extramarital sex that : Extramarital sex that willfully and maliciously interferes willfully and maliciously interferes with marriage relationswith marriage relations

FornicationFornication: Voluntary sexual : Voluntary sexual intercourse between persons not intercourse between persons not married to each othermarried to each other

IncestIncest: Sexual intercourse between : Sexual intercourse between persons too closely related to marry persons too closely related to marry (as between a parent and a child)(as between a parent and a child)

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The Adultery Rational QuizThe Adultery Rational Quiz

1.1. Would you consider it fair to take Would you consider it fair to take someone’s someone’s valuablesvaluables without without permissionpermission??

2.2. Would you consider committing Would you consider committing incest with your mother, sister or incest with your mother, sister or daughter? Why?daughter? Why?

3.3. What gives you the right to commit What gives you the right to commit fornication or adultery with fornication or adultery with someone’s mother, sister or someone’s mother, sister or daughter without daughter without permissionpermission??

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Consequences of AdulteryConsequences of Adultery Sexually Transmitted Diseases: (www.cdc.gov)Sexually Transmitted Diseases: (www.cdc.gov)

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) Chlamydia (3 million infected/year)Chlamydia (3 million infected/year) Genital Herpes (45 million ages 12 and older infected)Genital Herpes (45 million ages 12 and older infected) Genital Warts (20 million infected; 5.5 million/year)Genital Warts (20 million infected; 5.5 million/year) Gonorrhea (650,000 infected/year)Gonorrhea (650,000 infected/year) HIV / AIDSHIV / AIDS SyphilisSyphilis TrichomoniasisTrichomoniasis

Destruction of family bondDestruction of family bond Lost identity of the fatherLost identity of the father Psychological DistressPsychological Distress

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How to Prove a Case of AdulteryHow to Prove a Case of Adultery

4 Witnesses4 Witnesses PregnancyPregnancy ConfessionConfession

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Who Gets Stoned?Who Gets Stoned?

1.1. PubertyPuberty

2.2. SanitySanity

3.3. FreedomFreedom

4.4. IslamIslam

5.5. MarriageMarriage

6.6. IntercourseIntercourse

7.7. Equality of StatusEquality of Status

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The Court SentenceThe Court Sentence

The adulterer is taken into an open The adulterer is taken into an open land, and an adulteress is entered land, and an adulteress is entered into a pitinto a pit

The witnesses will throw first, The witnesses will throw first, followed by the judge, followed by followed by the judge, followed by the other peoplethe other people

Sentence is dropped when a witness Sentence is dropped when a witness refuses to throwrefuses to throw

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Where is Stoning Mentioned in the Where is Stoning Mentioned in the Qur’an?Qur’an?

The evidence:The evidence: ““The venerable old man and woman, if they commit adultery, stone The venerable old man and woman, if they commit adultery, stone

them without hesitation.” was Text-Abrogated by the Sunnah. them without hesitation.” was Text-Abrogated by the Sunnah. 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said: 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

Verily Allah sent Muhammad (may peace be upon him) with truth and Verily Allah sent Muhammad (may peace be upon him) with truth and He sent down the Book upon him, and the verse of stoning was He sent down the Book upon him, and the verse of stoning was included in what was sent down to him. We recited it, retained it in our included in what was sent down to him. We recited it, retained it in our memory and understood it. Allah's Messenger (my peace be upon him) memory and understood it. Allah's Messenger (my peace be upon him) awarded the penalty of stoning to death (to the married adulterer and awarded the penalty of stoning to death (to the married adulterer and adulteress) and, after him, we also awarded the penalty of stoning. I adulteress) and, after him, we also awarded the penalty of stoning. I am afraid that, with the lapse of time, the people (may forget it) and am afraid that, with the lapse of time, the people (may forget it) and may say: We do not find the penalty of stoning in the Book of Allah, may say: We do not find the penalty of stoning in the Book of Allah, and thus go astray by abandoning this duty prescribed by Allah. and thus go astray by abandoning this duty prescribed by Allah. Stoning is a duty laid down in Allah's Book for married men and women Stoning is a duty laid down in Allah's Book for married men and women who commit adultery when proof is established, or if there is who commit adultery when proof is established, or if there is pregnancy, or a confession.pregnancy, or a confession.

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Take from me, take from me, The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Take from me, take from me, Allah has ordained for them some other way: the virgin female Allah has ordained for them some other way: the virgin female (adulteress) to the virgin male (adulterer) 100 lashes and sent one (adulteress) to the virgin male (adulterer) 100 lashes and sent one year in exile, and the married woman (adulteress) to the married man year in exile, and the married woman (adulteress) to the married man (adulterer) 100 lashes and stoning.”(adulterer) 100 lashes and stoning.”

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Where is Stoning Mentioned in the Where is Stoning Mentioned in the Qur’an? Qur’an? (Cont’d)(Cont’d)

References to adhering to the Sunnah References to adhering to the Sunnah besides the Qur’an:besides the Qur’an: ““Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire. It Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire. It

is no less than inspiration sent down to him.” is no less than inspiration sent down to him.” [Annajm 53:3-4][Annajm 53:3-4]

““O ye who believe! obey Allah, and obey the O ye who believe! obey Allah, and obey the Messenger” [Annisaa’ 4:59]Messenger” [Annisaa’ 4:59]

““So take what the Messenger assigns to you, So take what the Messenger assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you.” [Al-Hashr 59:7]from you.” [Al-Hashr 59:7]

““Say: If ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will Say: If ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins” [Aal’ Imran love you and forgive you your sins” [Aal’ Imran 3:31]3:31]

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Adultery & Stoning in Previous Adultery & Stoning in Previous RevelationsRevelations

Prohibition of Adultery inProhibition of Adultery in:: The Laws of Moses: Exodus {20:14}; Deuteronomy {5:18}The Laws of Moses: Exodus {20:14}; Deuteronomy {5:18} The Gospels: Matthew {5:27}, {19:18}; Luke {18:20}The Gospels: Matthew {5:27}, {19:18}; Luke {18:20}

Stoning (Death) forStoning (Death) for:: Adultery: {Leviticus 20:10-20}, {Leviticus 22:22-25}, {John 8:1-11}Adultery: {Leviticus 20:10-20}, {Leviticus 22:22-25}, {John 8:1-11} Fornication: {Deuteronomy 22:13-29}Fornication: {Deuteronomy 22:13-29} Preaching a Different Religion: {Deuteronomy 13:6:11}Preaching a Different Religion: {Deuteronomy 13:6:11} Worshiping Other Gods: {Deuteronomy 17:1-7}Worshiping Other Gods: {Deuteronomy 17:1-7} Blasphemy: {Leviticus 24:10-16}, {Leviticus 24:23}, {John 10:25-40}Blasphemy: {Leviticus 24:10-16}, {Leviticus 24:23}, {John 10:25-40} Cursing God and the King: {1 Kings 21:1-16}Cursing God and the King: {1 Kings 21:1-16} Sacrificing Children to Other Gods: {Leviticus 20:1-5}Sacrificing Children to Other Gods: {Leviticus 20:1-5} Being Wizard: {Leviticus 20:27}Being Wizard: {Leviticus 20:27} Breaking the Sabbath: {Numbers 15:32-36}Breaking the Sabbath: {Numbers 15:32-36} Stubborn Sons: {Deuteronomy 21:18-21}Stubborn Sons: {Deuteronomy 21:18-21} Stealing: {Joshua 7:20-26}Stealing: {Joshua 7:20-26} Goring Animals: {Exodus 21:28-32}Goring Animals: {Exodus 21:28-32} Touching Mount Sinai: {Exodus 19:10-13}, {Hebrews 12:20-22}Touching Mount Sinai: {Exodus 19:10-13}, {Hebrews 12:20-22}

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ConclusionConclusion ““This day, I have perfected your religion for you, This day, I have perfected your religion for you,

completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” The Qur’an {Al-Ma’idah you Islam as your religion.” The Qur’an {Al-Ma’idah 5:3}5:3}

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUP) said, “Verily, I have been sent but to fulfill the (PBUP) said, “Verily, I have been sent but to fulfill the righteous of characters.”righteous of characters.”

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.” John {16:12-14}