Stoning adulterers is not “extremist”; it is Islamic law. The caliph Umar, one of Muhammad’s closest companions, even maintained that it was originally in the Qur’an:
‘Umar said, “I am afraid that after a long time has passed, people may say, “We do not find the Verses of the Rajam (stoning to death) in the Holy Book,” and consequently they may go astray by leaving an obligation that Allah has revealed. Lo! I confirm that the penalty of Rajam be inflicted on him who commits illegal sexual intercourse, if he is already married and the crime is proved by witnesses or pregnancy or confession.” Sufyan added, “I have memorized this narration in this way.” ‘Umar added, “Surely Allah’s Apostle carried out the penalty of Rajam, and so did we after him.” (Bukhari, vol. 8, bk. 82, no. 816)
“Allah’s Apostle” is, of course, Muhammad, who did indeed carry out stonings. Here is the hadith in which he challenges the rabbis about stoning, and in which there is amidst the barbarism and brutality a final act of love and compassion:
The Jews came to Allah’s Apostle and told him that a man and a woman from amongst them had committed illegal sexual intercourse. Allah’s Apostle said to them, “What do you find in the Torah (old Testament) about the legal punishment of Ar-Rajm (stoning)?” They replied, (But) we announce their crime and lash them.” Abdullah bin Salam said, “You are telling a lie; Torah contains the order of Rajm.” They brought and opened the Torah and one of them solaced his hand on the Verse of Rajm and read the verses preceding and following it. Abdullah bin Salam said to him, “Lift your hand.” When he lifted his hand, the Verse of Rajm was written there. They said, “Muhammad has told the truth; the Torah has the Verse of Rajm. The Prophet then gave the order that both of them should be stoned to death. (‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar said, “I saw the man leaning over the woman to shelter her from the stones.” (Bukhari, vol. 4, bk. 56, no. 829)
Even the monkeys practiced stoning, according to another hadith:
During the pre-lslamic period of ignorance I saw a she-monkey surrounded by a number of monkeys. They were all stoning it, because it had committed illegal sexual intercourse. I too, stoned it along with them. (Bukhari, vol. 5, bk. 58, no. 188)
Muhammad’s example is, of course, normative for Islamic behavior, since “truly in the messenger of Allah you have a good example for him who looks to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much” (Qur’an 33:21).
“ISIS extremists stone two civilians to death on charges of ‘committing adultery,’” by Helin Saeed, ARA News, April 1, 2016:
ALEPPO ــ Militants of the radical group of Islamic State (ISIS) stoned two Syrian civilians to death in Manbij city of Aleppo province on charges of ‘committing adultery’, local sources reported on Thursday.
A man and a woman were arrested on Wednesday under the pretext that they have committed adultery. The two victims were referred to the Sharia Court, which has ordered their immediate execution by publicly stoning them to death.
Speaking to ARA News in Manbij, media activist Nasser Taljbini said that after reciting the conviction, ISIS militants publicly stoned a man and a woman to death near the bridge of Manbij.
“Hundreds of people were watching the chilling scene silently,” an eyewitness told ARA News, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Following the execution, some locals started chanting supportive slogans to the Daesh-led brutal act,” the source said, using an acronym for ISIS….