What is the ruling on accusing a person of indecency whether it is a man or a woman?
ما حكم اتهام الناس بالفاحشة رجلا كان المتهم أو امرأة؟
The severity of preserving honor and reputation in Islam is so high that the law heavily penalizes rumors, gossip, and unfounded accusations of immorality.
إن شدة الحفاظ على الشرف والسمعة في الإسلام عالية جدا لدرجة أن الشريعة تعاقب بشدة على الشائعات والقيل والقال والاتهامات الباطلة بالفاحشة.
The Crime of Slander (Qadhf) | جريمة القذف
1. The Strict Requirement of Proof
It is forbidden to accuse people of indecency even if someone sees another with his own eyes committing immorality unless he brings four witnesses to testify with him.
1. اشتراط الدليل القاطع
يحرم اتهام الناس بالفاحشة و لو رأى من يفعل الفاحشة بعينيه و لم يكن معه أحد لم يجز له اتهامه، ما لم يأت بأربعة شهداء يشهدون.
2. The Punishment for Slander
But if there is no one to testify with him, then his punishment will be eighty lashes. This is the hadd punishment for one who slanders a chaste person. Furthermore, their testimony will never again be accepted, unless they repent and ask forgiveness after that, then Allah accepts their forgiveness.
2. عقوبة القذف
عقوبته أنه يجلد 80 جلدة (حد القذف). كما أنهم لن تقبل شهادتهم أبدا، إلا إذا تابوا و استغفروا بعد ذلك فالله يتوب عليهم.
The Quranic Command | الأمر القرآني
(Those who accuse chaste women of adultery and fail to produce four witnesses, give them eighty lashes each. And do not ever accept any testimony from them, for they are indeed the rebellious except those who repent afterwards and mend their ways, then surely Allah is All Forgiving, Most Merciful.) Surah An Nur 24: 4 to 5.
(وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ فَاجْلِدُوهُمْ ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً وَلَا تَقْبَلُوا لَهُمْ شَهَادَةً أَبَدًا ۚ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ ﴿٤﴾ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا مِن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٥﴾) النور 24: 4 إلى 5.
(Surely those who accuse chaste, unsuspecting, believing women are cursed in this life and the Hereafter. And they will suffer a tremendous punishment.) Surah An Nur 24: 23.
(إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ الْغَافِلَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ لُعِنُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٢٣﴾) النور 24: 23.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Why does Islam require exactly four witnesses for accusations of indecency?
This extremely high standard of proof is designed specifically to protect people's honor and reputations. It makes it practically impossible to publicly accuse someone without absolute, undeniable proof, thereby preventing malicious rumors from destroying families.
What happens if the accuser actually saw the act happen but has no other witnesses?
Even if a person sees the act with their own eyes, they are commanded to keep it hidden. Exposing the sin without the required three additional witnesses makes the person legally liable for slander, and they will receive the punishment for Qadhf.
What are the consequences of committing Qadhf (slander)?
The accuser receives the Hadd punishment of eighty lashes, they are publicly deemed rebellious (Fasiq), and they lose their legal right to testify as a witness in any future matters forever, unless they sincerely repent to Allah.