teaching, for Satan flows through the son of Adam as blood flows. How many people have been slain by such unbearded youths, becoming prey to Satan and to their whims and desires. This is a matter against which one must be cautious.

For this reason, the stronger view is that the punishment for one who commits the act of the people of Lot—whether the active or passive partner, if the latter consents—is execution in all cases, provided that both are legally responsible adults, even if neither has previously been married.

Shaykh al-Islam, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, unanimously agreed that both the active and passive partners are to be executed, but they differed as to how they should be executed.” (2) …

Abu Bakr, Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr, and Khalid ibn al-Walid burned them with fire, because this act is among the most abhorrent evils. Thus Allah says regarding unlawful sexual intercourse:

“And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality.” [Surah al-Isra: 32]

That is, one immorality among others, because the word “immorality” is indefinite.

But Allah says concerning the act of the people of Lot:

“Do you commit such an abomination?” [Surah al-Aʿraf: 80]

It is as though it has reached the utmost and highest degree of obscenity.

The ruler is to execute him in whatever manner will deter people from this vile act, because it is impossible to guard against it altogether. Unlawful sexual intercourse can be guarded against: if we see a man with a woman unrelated to him, we ask him, “Who is this?” But this is not possible when a man is with another man.

This is like what they said: murder by stealth entails execution in every case,