[Section on the Rāfidī’s claim that Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—ordered an insane woman to be stoned]

Section (1)

The Rāfidī said (2):

“He ordered an insane woman to be stoned, whereupon Ali—may Allah be pleased with him—said to him, ‘The pen has been lifted from the insane person until he regains his sanity.’ Umar then desisted and said, ‘Were it not for Ali, Umar would have perished.’”

The response is that this addition is not known to be part of this hadith (3).

As for ordering the insane woman to be stoned, there are several possibilities: either he did not know that she was insane, in which case this does not impugn his knowledge of the rulings; or he was heedless of that fact and was reminded of it; or one might suppose that punishments are imposed to avert harm in this world, and that an insane person may be punished to prevent him from aggressing against others, whether sane or insane. Unlawful sexual intercourse is a form of aggression, so punishment might be imposed for it until it becomes clear that this falls under the prescribed penalties ordained by Allah Most High, which are imposed only upon those who are legally accountable.

The Sharia has indeed prescribed that children be disciplined for neglecting prayer, as the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Command them to pray at the age of seven, strike them for it at the age of ten, and separate them in their beds.” (4)