Sharḥ Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (3/11)

Sharḥ Riyāḍ al-ṢāliḥīnIbn al-'Uthaymin

of the believers is their mother—so how could they entertain a notion unbefitting her, may Allah bless her and grant her peace? What was incumbent upon them, the moment they heard that report, was to think well of themselves, repudiate the story, and disown anyone who voiced it.

Allah also says: “Why did they not bring four witnesses to prove it? And if they fail to produce the witnesses, then, in the sight of Allah, they are indeed the liars” ⦗al-Nūr 24:13⦘—meaning, why did they not come forward with four witnesses who could testify to the matter?

“And if they fail to produce the witnesses, then, in the sight of Allah, they are indeed the liars.” Even had they been truthful, this ruling would still apply. For instance, if someone saw a person committing adultery and went to the judge saying, “I testify that so-and-so is fornicating,” we would reply, “Bring four witnesses.” Should he fail to produce them, we flog him eighty lashes. If he brings a second man, we flog each of them eighty lashes; should a third join them, every one of them is flogged eighty lashes.

So if three people came forward claiming they had seen so-and-so committing adultery with such-and-such a woman, yet the charge could not be substantiated, we would lash each of the three eighty times. Hence Allah the Exalted declares: “Why did they not bring four witnesses to prove it? And if they fail to produce the witnesses, then, in the sight of Allah, they are indeed the liars. Had it not been for the grace of Allah upon you and His mercy in this world and the Hereafter, a tremendous punishment would have touched you for what you plunged into” ⦗al-Nūr 24:13–14⦘.

Were it not for Allah’s favor and mercy, the punishment described would have struck you for the words into which you plunged. The phrase “for what you plunged into” shows that the rumor had spread, overflowed, and become widespread and notorious, for it was a grave and weighty affair. By nature, such major matters spread quickly, filling homes, mouths, and ears. “Had it not been for the grace of Allah upon you and His mercy in this world and the Hereafter, a tremendous punishment would have touched you for what you plunged into…”

المؤمنين أمهم فكيف يظنون ما لا يليق بها ﵂، وكان الواجب عليهم لما سمعوا هذا الخبر؛ أن ظنوا بأنفسهم خيراً وتبرؤوا منه وممن قاله. (لَوْلا جَاءُوا عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِالشُّهَدَاءِ فَأُولَئِكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْكَاذِبُونَ) [النور: ١٣] ، يعني هلا جاءوا عليه بأربعة شهداء يشهدون على هذا الأمر. (فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِالشُّهَدَاءِ فَأُولَئِكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْكَاذِبُونَ) ولو صدقوا، ولهذا لو أن شخصا شاهد إنسانا يزني، وجاء إلى القاضي وقال أنا أشهد أن فلانا يزني، قلنا: هات أربعة شهداء، فإذا لم يأت بأربعة شهداء؛ جلدناه ثمانين جلدة، فإن جاء برجل ثان معه؛ جلدناهم كل واحد ثمانين جلدة، وثالث أيضا نجلد كل واحد ثمانين جلدة. فمثلاً لو جاءنا ثلاثة يشهدون بأنهم رأوا فلانا يزني بفلانة، ولم يثبت ذلك، فإننا نجلد كل واحد ثمانين جلدة، ولهذا قال الله تعالى: (لَوْلا جَاءُوا عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِالشُّهَدَاءِ فَأُولَئِكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْكَاذِبُونَ وَلَوْلا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِي مَا أَفَضْتُمْ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ) [النور: ١٣ ـ ١٤] . لولا الفضل والرحمة من الله؛ لأصابكم فيما أفضتم فيه العقاب المذكور، وفي قوله: (أَفَضْتُمْ فِيهِ) دليل على أن الحديث انتشر وفاض واستفاض واشتهر؛ لأنه أمر جلل عظيم خطير، وقد جرت العادة بأن الأمور الكبيرة تنتشر بسرعة وتملأ البيوت، وتملأ الأفواه والآذان (وَلَوْلا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِي مَا أَفَضْتُمْ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ إِذْ