Islam, the religion of peace for all, has strict punishments for the unethical and illegal act of adultery. In the case of adultery, there must be four witnesses who testify the sin and sinners. Both offenders must then be penalized with 100 lashes. Allah Almighty clearly states that their punishment cannot be lessened out of sympathy.
“The adulterer and the adulteress, scourge ye each one of them (with) a hundred stripes. And let not pity for the twain withhold you from obedience to Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a party of believers witness their punishment.” (Holy Quran 24:2)
At the same time, Islam strictly condemns slandering chaste women of the sin. There is a clear cut punishment for such a sinner who blames, slanders, and suspects a chaste woman. The Islamic Shariah has the obligation to ensure and preserve a woman’s purity who is unjustly being libeled. Allah Almighty says,
“And those who accuse honorable women but bring not four witnesses, scourge them (with) eighty stripes and never (afterward) accept their testimony – They indeed are evil-doers-Save those who afterward repent and make amends. (For such) lo! Allah is forgiving, merciful.” (Holy Quran 24:4-5)
Both these punishments are not just punishments, but are intended to create a society with consciousness towards what is right and what is wrong. Slandering chaste women is not a simple thing to be given no consideration. In fact, for a woman, chastity is her biggest ornament. Islam knows her feelings and values her jewels and thus gives such a severe penalty for those who are involved in the heinous crime of slandering chaste women.
There are three consecutive punishments described in the Holy Quran for those who are indulged in slandering chaste women. Islam preserves their honor and gives the physical punishment of whipping the accuser with eighty (80) lashes. This penalty is almost the same as prescribed for fornicators. The second phase of punishment is moral, as it leads to deny the testimony of accuser forever. He/she has committed such a deceitful and grievous sin of slandering chaste women and has earned nothing but Allah Almighty’s wrath. The third phase of punishment is related to religious bounds, as Allah Almighty has termed them evil doers and transgressors. These three penalties are Allah’s justice for chaste women and Allah’s wrath towards the accusers. However, the most Merciful Allah Almighty mentions that if they want to get rid of eternal wrath and earn eternal peace, they must repent and amend their sin of slandering chaste women.
Holy Prophet (PBUH) warned us from seven noxious things including slandering chaste women:
1. Associating anything with Allah,
2. Magic,
3. Killing of one whom God has declared inviolate without a just cause,
4. Consuming the property of an orphan,
5. And consuming of usury,
6. Turning back when the army advances,
7. And slandering chaste women who are believers, but unwary. (Sahih Muslim)
Life is so peaceful and comfortable if one follows the teachings of Islam in every aspect of life.
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