“Bangladesh has a secular legal system and applying Sharia in criminal cases is illegal.” The stoning was certainly in accord with Sharia. 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: “Indeed in the messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for him who looks to Allah and the last day, and remembers Allah a great deal.” (Qur’an 33:21)
“Cleric three villagers arrested in Bangladesh on stoning woman,” Pak Tribune, April 11, 2023 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
DHAKA: A cleric and three village elders were arrested in Bangladesh on charges they ordered a woman to be caned and stoned after she was accused of an extra-marital affair, police said on Monday.
Police said Hamida Sutana was “caned 82 strokes” and “stoned 80 times” with small brick pieces after an imam issued a fatwa punishing her last week.
Sultana said she was “a victim of terrible injustice”.
“I can’t express in language what they did to me,” the 30-year-old said.
Bangladesh has a secular legal system and applying Sharia in criminal cases is illegal.
The fatwa triggered an outcry, with feminist groups and rights activists staging protests to demand the perpetrators’ prosecution….
Police inspector Zakir Hossain said officers arrested four people, including the imam of the mosque in Habiganj…
gravenimage says
Bangladesh: Muslim cleric and three others arrested for ordering a woman to be caned and stoned for adultery
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Grimly, this is all perfectly Islamic.
I’m just surprised that the victim survived the stoning.
Ray Fowler says
when speaking of islam one expects barbaric acts. when have islamic nutters ever acted like human beings. i would expect nothing less from these brainless morons.
PRCS says
Yes, it is.
Fortunately, in this instance, man-law took precedence and the perps were arrested.
A grain of sand in a moral desert, however.
Kenneth Johnson says
A small step in the right directionl. Will these four men get more than a ssllap on the
wrist. Lets jhlpe sol Ken
OLD GUY says
Sadly this is probably a one in a million case where islam is punished for its violence against women.
European pagan says
Stoning is in the hadiths, and hadiths are worse than the Quran. Rejecting sharia and hadiths would be a step towards peace.