Stoning for illegal sexual intercourse
Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 79
Narrated 'Abdullah bin Umar:
The Jews brought to the Prophet a man and a woman from among them who had committed illegal sexual intercourse.
The whole idea of a regulation from the tribe, clan or state as to who may share heart and body with who would seem alien to any westener. But the tradition is alive and well in Islamic countries.
The Prophet said to them [the Jews], "How do you usually punish the one amongst you who has committed illegal sexual intercourse?" They replied, "We blacken their faces with coal and beat them," He said, "Don't you find the order of Ar-Rajm (i.e. stoning to death) in the Torah?" They replied, "We do not find anything in it."
Interesting passage. Muhammad relies on the Jewish scripture to resolve the problem. And the Jews lie about what's in there...
'Abdullah bin Salam (after hearing this conversation) said to them. "You have told a lie! Bring here the Torah and recite it if you are truthful." (So the Jews brought the Torah). And the religious teacher who was teaching it to them, put his hand over the Verse of Ar-Rajm and started reading what was written above and below the place hidden with his hand, but he did not read the Verse of Ar-Rajm.
This is how the Jews resolve their problem with brutal pieces of scriptures from ancient days. They have decided to disregard it. Works for them. But to Muslims, who see scripture as a divine order not to be contradicted, this is impossible:
'Abdullah bin Salam removed his ( i.e. the teacher's) hand from the Verse of Ar-Rajm and said, "What is this?" So when the Jews saw that Verse, they said, "This is the Verse of Ar-Rajm."
Looks like the Jewish solution doesn't quite cut it.
So the Prophet ordered the two adulterers to be stoned to death, and they were stoned to death near the place where biers used to be placed near the Mosque.
This is where stoning for illegal love enters Sharia. Unfortunately for little girls in Islamic countries, paedophilia has no similar punishment.
I saw her companion (i.e. the adulterer) bowing over her so as to protect her from the stones.
The affection this couple had for each other appears genuine. Such a shame that their love earns them capital punishment. The world needs more love, not less.
