'Abdullah b. 'Abbas reported that 'Umar b. Khattab sat on the pulpit of Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) and said: Verily Allaah sent Muhammad (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) with truth and 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 memory and understood it. Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) awarded the punishment of stoning to death (to the married adulterer and adulteress) and, after him, we also awarded the punishment of stoning, I am afraid that with the lapse of time, the people (may forget it) and may say: We do not find the punishment of stoning in the Book of Allaah, and thus go astray by abandoning this duty prescribed by Allaah. Stoning is a duty laid down in Allaah's Book for married men and women who commit adultery when proof is established, or it there is pregnancy, or a confession.
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