Question:
Assalamo alaykum, I came across the following for the first time and I have doubts about its authenticity. Could you please shed some light on it? "Sahih al Bukhari (Volume 8, pages 209-210, translation by Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan). Hadhrath Umar during his last Hajj as Khalifa: “Certainly GOD sent Muhammad with the truth, and revealed to him the Book. One of the revelations which came to him was the verse of stoning. We read it and understood it. The Messenger of GOD stoned and we stoned after him. I am concerned that if time goes on, someone may say, ‘By GOD, we do not find the verse of stoning in the Book of GOD;’ thus, the Muslims will deviate by neglecting a commandment the Almighty revealed.” “Stoning is in the Book of GOD. It is the right punishment for a person who commits adultery if the required witnesses are available, or there was pregnancy without marriage or adultery is admitted.” “When the verses “Rajm” [Stoning] and ayah “Rezah Kabir” descended, they were written on a piece of paper and kept under my pillow. Following the demise of Prophet Muhammad (S) a goat ate the piece of paper while we were mourning. Refer also 1. Sunan Ibne Majah, Volume 2, Page 39, Published Karachi, 2. Musnad Imam Ahmad, Volume 6, Page 269, Published Beirut and 3. Taweel Mukhtalif Al Hadees, Page 310, Published Beirut.” I look forward to hearing from you soon, insha’Allah. WasSalaam, Sadiyah
Dear questioner:
Al-Salâm `Alaykum wa Rahmah Allah wa Barakâtuh.
We are surprised that you were rebuked for what you said. It was absolutely correct.
`Umar b. al-Khattâb gave a sermon in which he said: “Allah sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) with the truth and revealed to him the Book. Among what He revealed to him was the verse of stoning. We used to recite it and commit it to memory. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to carry out the punishment of stoning and we continued to carry out this sentence after his passing. I fear that there will come a time when someone will say that they do not find stoning in the Book of Allah and go astray by abandoning a command that Allah had revealed in His Book. For truly stoning is from Allah’s Book prescribed for men and women who commit adultery after having been married.” [Related by al-Bukhârî (6829), Muslim (1691), Al-Tirmidhî (1431), and Ibn Mâjah (2553)]
This hadîth shows us that stoning is established by a verse of the Qur’ân. The recitation of this verse was later abrogated but its ruling was not.
`Umar b. al-Khattâb said: “We used to read: ‘The male and female sheikh, if they commit adultery, stone them to death.’”
This is a classic example of the abrogation of the recitation of a verse while upholding its ruling. It is cited as an example in nearly every book of Islamic jurisprudence and most books of Qur’ânic studies.
This manner of abrogation is referred to by Allah’s statement: “What we abrogate of the verses or cause to be forgotten, we come with what is better or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah is capable of all things?” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 105]
The words: “or cause to be forgotten” clearly show that verses can not only have their rulings abrogated, but their recitation can be abrogated as well.
And Allah knows best.
Research Committee of the Fatwâ Department, IslamToday.net
