Section
If a disbelieving man commits unlawful sexual intercourse with a disbelieving woman like himself, neither is subject to a fixed punishment according to our school, whether they are free or enslaved, virgins or non-virgins. They are, however, to be disciplined if they do so openly, since a disbeliever possesses none of the grounds for ihsān. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sentenced the two Jews to stoning under the ruling of the Torah, not that of Islam, because they had no covenant of protection at that time. The verse concerning jizyah was only revealed in the ninth year after the Hijrah, upon the Prophet’s return from Hunayn, peace be upon him. Had they been under a covenant of protection then, he would not have had them stoned, because stoning is prescribed in our law only after attaining ihsān through Islam, freedom, and marriage. This is the position of Mālik, may Allah have mercy on him, and all his companions, with no disagreement among them. It differs from the position of al-Shāfiʿī and Abū Hanīfah, who hold that a Jewish or Christian couple who commit unlawful sexual intercourse are sentenced to stoning if they possess ihsān, or to flogging if they are virgins. In one of his two opinions, al-Shāfiʿī stipulated that they must consent to being judged by Muslims. Success comes from Allah.
Section
If a disbeliever embraces Islam and then commits unlawful sexual intercourse while enslaved, his fixed punishment is fifty lashes, for committing an indecency forbidden to him after safeguarding his chastity through Islam. If he is then freed and commits unlawful sexual intercourse, his fixed punishment is one hundred lashes, for committing an indecency forbidden to him after safeguarding his chastity through Islam and freedom. Then there is marriage, which is the highest degree of Islam in safeguarding chastity.
Section
Sexual intercourse within marriage does not confer ihsān unless it takes place after the attainment of Islam and freedom. If it occurs before both, or before either one, it establishes no legal ruling and is not taken into account in changing the fixed punishment. As for freedom and Islam, whenever both are present, they are taken into account, whether Islam precedes freedom or freedom precedes Islam.