to Allah for the safety He has bestowed, and repent privately to his Lord for the sins he has committed. Whenever a person sincerely repents and turns back to Allah, Allah will cover his faults in this world and the Hereafter. Allah alone grants success.
***
3/242 — On his authority, the Prophet ﷺ said: “When a slave-girl commits fornication and her fornication becomes evident, let her be given the prescribed punishment and do not censure her. If she commits fornication a second time, let her again be given the prescribed punishment and do not censure her. If she commits fornication a third time, then sell her, even for no more than a rope of hair.” Agreed upon.
ath-tathrīb: censure or reproach.
[Explanation]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—reports from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet ﷺ said: “If the slave-girl of any one of you commits fornication, let him apply the prescribed punishment to her and not reproach her.”
A slave-girl (ama) is a female slave who may be bought and sold. Should she commit fornication, the Messenger ﷺ commands that she receive the prescribed punishment. The legal penalty for a slave-girl is half that of a free woman, as Allah the Exalted says: “When they are married, if they commit indecency, their punishment is half that of the free married women” (Qur’an 4:25).
If an unmarried free woman fornicates, she is to be lashed one hundred lashes and banished for a year. For a slave-girl the punishment is half of that—namely, fifty lashes. As for banishment, scholars hold two opinions:
- Some maintain that she is banished for half a year.
- Others say she is not banished at all, because her master has a right over her that would be infringed by sending her away.