The same explanation may also be given for his command to execute a wine-drinker on the fourth occasion, as supported by what Ahmad narrated in his Musnad from Daylam al-Himyarī (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:

“I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), saying: ‘O Messenger of Allah, we live in a land where we perform strenuous work, and we make a drink from wheat to strengthen us for our work and against the cold of our land.’

“He asked: ‘Does it intoxicate?’ I replied: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Then avoid it.’ I said: ‘The people will not give it up.’ He said: ‘If they do not give it up, kill them.’”

This is because someone who spreads corruption is like an aggressor: if the aggressor cannot be repelled except by killing him, he is killed.

In sum, punishment is of two kinds. The first is punishment for a past offense, as recompense for what the offender has done and an exemplary punishment from Allah, such as flogging a wine-drinker or someone who makes an accusation of unlawful sexual intercourse, and the amputation imposed on armed robbers and thieves.

The second is punishment intended to secure the fulfillment of an obligation and abstention from what is forbidden in the future. Thus, an apostate is called upon to repent and embrace Islam: if he repents, he is spared; otherwise, he is executed. Likewise, someone who neglects prayer, zakat, or the rights of others is punished until he fulfills them. Discretionary punishment in this second category is more severe than in the first. Hence, he may be beaten repeatedly until he performs the obligatory prayer or fulfills the duty incumbent upon him.

As for the hadith in the two Sahīh collections, in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“No one is to be flogged more than ten