WHAT IS THE VERSE OF STONING?
THE SCIENCES OF THE QUR'AN
SHAYKH SALIH AL-KIRBASI
2 min read
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The Verse of Stoning: This alleged verse is fabricated and baseless, having no foundation in the Book of Allah, the Exalted. Claiming its authenticity is equivalent to claiming the distortion of the Qur'an. This alleged verse has been cited as part of the Qur'an in various forms in Sunni sources, as mentioned by Abu Umar Sadiq Al-'Alai in his book, including the following versions:
إذا زنيا الشيخ و الشيخة فارجموهما البتة نكالاً من الله والله عزيز حكيم
لشيخ و الشيخة فارجموهما البتة بـما قضيا من اللذة
إن الشيخ و الشيخة إذا زنيا فارجموهما البتة
- "If the old man and the old woman commit adultery, then stone them absolutely as a punishment from Allah, and Allah is Mighty and Wise."
- "The old man and the old woman, stone them absolutely for what they have derived from pleasure."
- "Indeed, if the old man and the old woman commit adultery, then stone them absolutely." [1]
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The Sources of the verse of Stoning
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From Al-Layth ibn Sa'd, it is reported:
أول من جمع القرآن أبو بكر و كتبه زيد…و إن عمر أتى بآية الرجم فلم يكتبها لأنه كان وحده
“The first to compile the Qur'an was Abu Bakr, and it was written by Zayd [bin Thabit]... and indeed, Umar brought the Verse of Stoning, but it was not written because he was alone in its narration.” [2]
And Az-Zayla’i stated in "Nasb al-Raya":
قلت روى البخاري و مسلم عن ابن عباس أن عمر بن الخطاب خطب فقال: إن الله بعث محمدا صلى الله عليه (و آله) و سلم بالحق، و أنزل عليه الكتاب فكان فيما أنزل عليه آية الرجم فقرأناها و وعيناها و رجم رسول الله صلى الله عليه (و آله) و سلم و رجمنا من بعده، و إني حسبت إن طال بالناس الزمان أن يقول قائل ما نجد آية الرجم في كتاب الله، فيضلوا بترك فريضة أنزلها الله فالرجم حق على من زنى من الرجال و النساء إذا كان محصنا إن قامت البينة أو كان حمل أو اعتراف، و أيم الله ! لولا أن يقول الناس زاد عمر في كتاب الله عَزَّ و جَلَّ لكتبتها
“I said, Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Ibn Abbas that Umar ibn al-Khattab gave a sermon and said: ‘Allah sent Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, with the truth and revealed the Book to him. Among what was revealed to him was the Verse of Stoning, and we read it and understood it. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, implemented stoning, and we stoned after him. I fear that over time, someone may say, “We do not find the Verse of Stoning in the Book of Allah,” and thus abandon a duty Allah has revealed. Stoning is a rightful punishment for those who commit adultery among men and women if they are married, provided there is evidence, pregnancy, or confession. By Allah, if it weren’t for people saying, “Umar has added to the Book of Allah, the Exalted,” I would have written it.’” [3]
An-Nasā’ī reported in his "Sunan Al-Kubra" with an authentic chain that Umar mentioned stoning in his sermon and said:
... ولولا أن الناس يقولون زاد في كتاب الله لكتبته بخطي حتى ألحقه بالكتاب
“…and were it not that people might say Umar has added to the Book of Allah, I would have written it with my own hand and included it in the Book.” [4]
Abu Umar Sadiq Al-Ala'i, after mentioning the alleged Verse of Stoning, commented:
هذه الجمل التي ألصِقت بكتاب الله كل صيغها مسودّة كئيبة يدفعها القرآن بجماله و ينفيها برونق نظمه و بيانه، و لا يكاد ينقضي عجبي من هؤلاء المحتجين على غير أهل ملّتنا بإعجاز القرآن و انقطاع البشر كلهم عن أن يأتوا بمثله، و هم مع ذلك ينسبون له سورا و آيات لو وضعت بين آيات القرآن لكانت كالفحم بين رواصع الألماس و لجين اللؤلؤ
“These phrases falsely attached to the Book of Allah are all somber and bleak, repelled by the Qur’an’s beauty and rejected by the splendour of its composition and eloquence. I am endlessly astonished by those who argue with non-Muslims about the Qur’an’s inimitability, claiming that all humans are incapable of producing its like, while at the same time attributing to it chapters and verses that, if placed among the Qur’an’s verses, would stand out like coal among diamonds or lead among pearls.” [5]
References
[1] I'lam Al-Khalaf biman Qala bi Tahrif Al-Qur'an min A'lam Al-Salaf , Abu Umar Sadiq Al-'Alai, Volume 2, Page 342
[2] Al-Itqan fi 'Ulum Al-Qur'an, Jalāl Ad-Din As-Suyuti, Volume 1, Page 206
[3] Nasb Ar-Rayah, Jamal Az-Zayla'i, Volume 3, Page 318-319
[4] As-Sunan Al-Kubra, An-Nasa'i Volume, Page 408, Hadith 7113
[5] I'lam Al-Khalaf biman Qala bi Tahrif Al-Qur'an min A'lam Al-Salaf, Abu Umar Sadiq Al-Ala'i, Volume 2, Page 342-343
The original text in Arabic can be found here
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