Punishment & Wisdom

**A. Punishment for Qadhf:** The Lawgiver has decreed that whoever accuses a Muslim of zina, and no evidence establishes the truth of his accusation, is to be **lashed eighty times** - whether male or female. **Evidence:** Allah says: "And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes" [An-Nur: 4]. --- **B. Additional Consequences:** Along with establishing the hadd, two punishments are obligatory upon the Qadhif: 1. **His testimony is rejected** 2. **He is ruled as a Fasiq (corrupt)** **Evidence:** Allah says: "And do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient" [An-Nur: 4]. --- **C. If the Qadhif Repents:** If the Qadhif repents, his testimony is accepted again. **Repentance means:** He denies himself in what he accused another of, regrets it, and seeks forgiveness from his Lord. **Evidence:** Allah says: "Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful" [An-Nur: 5]. --- **D. Wisdom of this Hadd:** Islam aims through establishing the hadd of Qadhf to: 1. **Protect society** 2. **Preserve people's honor** 3. **Cut off evil tongues** 4. **Close the door to spreading immorality among the believers**