Chapter on What Necessitates Discretionary Punishment, Legal Punishment, Stoning, Execution, and Exile in Adultery

Yunus ibn Ya'qub narrated from Abu Maryam, who narrated from Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام that a woman came to Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام and said: "I have committed adultery." Imam عليه السلام turned his face away from her. She moved to face Imam عليه السلام again and repeated: "I have committed adultery," but Imam عليه السلام turned away once more. She repeated it a third and then a fourth time. After the fourth confession, Imam عليه السلام ordered that she be detained. It was discovered that she was pregnant, so Imam عليه السلام waited until she gave birth. Afterward, Imam عليه السلام commanded that a pit be dug for her in the open space of Rahbah. Imam عليه السلام dressed her in a new garment and placed her into the pit up to her waist and chest level. Imam عليه السلام then closed the gate of Rahbah and threw a stone at her, saying, "In the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى. O' Allah سبحانه وتعالى, in confirmation of Your Book and the Sunnah of Your Prophet." Then Imam عليه السلام instructed Qanbar to throw a stone at her. Afterward, Imam عليه السلام returned to his house and said: "O' Qanbar, permit the companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) to enter." They entered and began stoning her, each throwing a stone. When they were unsure whether to reuse the same stones or throw new ones while she was still alive, they said: "O' Qanbar, inform him that we have stoned her with our stones, but she is still alive. What should we do?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "Return to your stones," and they continued until she died. They asked: "She has now died, what should we do with her?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Hand her over to her family and instruct them to treat her as they would their deceased."