Definition & Ruling

**A. Definition:** **Linguistically:** Qadhf means "throwing" - like throwing stones and the like. Then it was used for throwing accusations of evil like zina and sodomy (liwat), due to the similarity between them - which is causing harm. **Legally:** Accusing someone of zina or sodomy, or testifying to either without completing the evidence, or denying lineage in a way that necessitates the hadd in both. --- **B. Ruling:** Qadhf is fundamentally **forbidden** by the Quran, Sunnah, and Consensus. It is a **major sin**. Accusing someone of indecency is forbidden. **Evidence from Quran:** Allah says: "Indeed, those who [falsely] accuse chaste, unaware, believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter, and they will have a great punishment" [An-Nur: 23]. **Evidence from Sunnah:** Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Avoid the seven destructive sins" - and he mentioned among them: "Accusing chaste, unaware, believing women" [Bukhari & Muslim]. **Consensus:** Muslims have unanimously agreed on the prohibition of Qadhf and considered it among the major sins. --- **C. When Qadhf is Obligatory:** Qadhf becomes **obligatory** for one who sees his wife committing zina, then she gives birth to a child whom he strongly suspects is from the adulterer - so that the child is not attributed to him and enters among his people while not being from them. --- **D. When Qadhf is Permissible:** Qadhf is **permissible** for one who sees his wife committing zina, but no pregnancy results from that zina.