Second: that it take place in a vagina or anus.
Third: that the vagina or anus be natural.
Fourth: that the vagina or anus belong to a human being.
Fifth: that the human being be alive.
If any of these five conditions is not fulfilled, the prescribed punishment is not due upon the offender, though he is liable to discretionary punishment.
Thus, if a man spends the night with a woman, kissing and embracing her, having intercourse with her between the thighs, and doing everything else, but does not insert the glans, then there is no prescribed punishment; however, he is liable to discretionary punishment. If he comes repentant to the authority, the judge has discretion: if he wishes, he may impose discretionary punishment upon him, and if he wishes, he may refrain from doing so. This is because it is established in an authentic hadith that a man came to the Messenger, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, informing him that he had done everything with a woman except intercourse. Thereupon Allah revealed:
“Establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds.” [Hud 11:114] (1)
He did not impose discretionary punishment upon him. Therefore, if someone comes remorseful and repentant for what he has done, then, if he asks us to impose discretionary punishment upon him and insists on it, we impose it upon him; otherwise, we inform him that repentance wipes away what came before it.
Second: the absence of legal ambiguity. Thus, no prescribed punishment is imposed for intercourse with a female slave in whom one has a share, or who belongs to one’s child; or with a woman whom one believes to be one’s wife or concubine; or within an invalid marriage that one believes to be valid; or in a marriage or ownership arrangement concerning which there is scholarly disagreement; and the like. Nor is a woman subject to the prescribed punishment if she is coerced into fornication or adultery.
His statement, “Second: the absence of legal ambiguity,” means that the prescribed punishment is a penalty for sin; therefore, this sin must be established before this punishment can be applied,