وَٱلَّـٰتِى يَأْتِينَ ٱلْفَـٰحِشَةَ مِن نِّسَآئِكُمْ فَٱسْتَشْهِدُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةً مِّنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن شَهِدُوا۟ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلْبُيُوتِ حَتَّىٰ يَتَوَفَّىٰهُنَّ ٱلْمَوْتُ أَوْ يَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُنَّ سَبِيلًا 15
Translations
Those who commit immorality [i.e., unlawful sexual intercourse] of your women - bring against them four [witnesses] from among you. And if they testify, confine them [i.e., the guilty women] to houses until death takes them or Allāh ordains for them [another] way.
Transliteration
Wal-lati ya'tina al-fahisha min nisa'ikum fa-istashhidu 'alayhinna arba'ata minkum fa'in shahidu fa-amsikuhunna fi al-buyuti hatta yatawaffayhunna al-mawtu aw yaj'ala Allahu lahunna sabila
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the severe sin of unlawful sexual intercourse (fahisha) committed by women and prescribes the testimony of four witnesses as evidence before punishment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this was an interim ruling before the definitive law of stoning for married adulterers and flogging for unmarried ones was established. The ayah emphasizes the necessity of rigorous evidence ('isma') before any legal action, reflecting Islamic jurisprudence's protection of individual dignity and the extremely high burden of proof required for moral crimes.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa, revealed in Medina during the establishment of the Islamic legal system. It addresses moral and social conduct within the Muslim community. This specific ruling was later abrogated regarding the punishment method by Surah An-Nur (24:2), which prescribes flogging for unmarried fornicators, while the testimony requirement of four witnesses remained foundational in Islamic law.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Avoid the seven destructive sins,' including zina (adultery). Additionally, the hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud regarding the testimony of four witnesses as a condition for legal punishment in cases of fahisha reflects the evidentiary standard established in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that Islamic law prioritizes both justice and mercy—requiring overwhelming evidence before moral accusations, while also demonstrating Allah's concern for social order and personal honor in communities.