Some scholars held that confession need not be made four times, and that confession to fornication is like any other confession: if a person confesses to it once, and the conditions of confession are fulfilled—namely, that he is an adult of sound mind and free of any impairment—then fornication is established. They cited as evidence the general import of Allah’s saying:

“O you who believe, stand firmly for justice as witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves.” [Quran 4:135]

This is evidence in their favour.

From the sunnah, they cited the Prophet’s ﷺ statement to Unays, a man from the Ansar: “Go, Unays, to this man’s wife, and if she confesses, then stone her.” (1)

They also argued on rational grounds that when a person confesses against himself, it is established by a single confession, for no one would confess to something that sullies his honour and makes punishment obligatory upon him unless he were truthful in it. Once he has truthfully confessed, even a single time, the description of fornication applies to him; and when the description of fornication applies to him, Allah, Exalted is He, has said:

“As for the fornicating woman and the fornicating man, flog each of them with a hundred lashes.” [Quran 24:2]

As for the matter of public circulation, it is not removed by repeating the confession four times. For once a man has confessed four times and firmly persisted in it, the matter has become clear and evident.

It remains for us to answer the proofs of those who maintain that repetition is required. Their strongest hadith is the hadith of Ma'iz (may Allah be pleased with him). We say: the Prophet’s ﷺ questions to him indicate that he wished to verify the report, for he asked him, “Are you mad?” He replied, “No.” Then he sent to his people and said to them: