Hadith.5018 - A woman came to the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام, and said: "O' Commander of the Faithful, I have committed adultery, so purify me. May Allah سبحانه وتعالى purify you, for the punishment in this world is lighter than the punishment in the Hereafter, which never ends."
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام asked her: "From what should I purify you?"
She replied: "From adultery."
Imam عليه السلام then asked: "Are you a married woman or not?"
She said: "I am married."
Imam عليه السلام asked: "Was your husband present or absent?"
She replied: "He was present."
Imam عليه السلام said: "Wait until you give birth to what is in your womb, then come to me."
As she turned away and could no longer hear him, Imam عليه السلام said: "O' Allah سبحانه وتعالى, this is one testimony."
Not long after, she returned and said: "I have given birth. Purify me."
Imam عليه السلام feigned ignorance and said: "Purify you from what, O' servant of Allah سبحانه وتعالى?"
She replied: "I have committed adultery and have given birth, so purify me."
Imam عليه السلام asked her again, "Were you married when you did what you did or not?"
She said: "Yes, I was married."
Imam عليه السلام asked: "Was your husband absent or present?"
She answered: "He was present."
Imam عليه السلام said: "Go and nurse your child."
As she turned away and could no longer hear him, Imam عليه السلام said: "O' Allah سبحانه وتعالى, these are two testimonies."
After she had nursed her child, the woman returned to the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام, and said: "O' Commander of the Faithful, I have committed adultery, so purify me."
Imam عليه السلام asked her: "Were you married when you did what you did or not?"
She replied: "Yes, I was married."
Imam عليه السلام asked: "Was your husband present or absent?"
She answered, "He was present."
Imam عليه السلام said: "Go and care for your child until he becomes aware enough to eat, drink, not fall from a roof, and not stumble into a well."
The woman turned away weeping, and when she was far enough not to hear him, Imam Ali عليه السلام said: "O' Allah سبحانه وتعالى, this is the third testimony."
As she was crying, Amr ibn Hurayth met her and asked: "Why are you crying?"
She replied: "I went to the Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام and asked him to purify me, but he told me to care for my child until he eats, drinks, does not fall from a roof, and does not stumble into a well. I am afraid that death will come to me before I am purified."
Amr ibn Hurayth said to her: "Return, for I will take responsibility for your child."
She returned to Imam Ali عليه السلام and informed him of Amr's offer.
Imam Ali عليه السلام asked her: "Why would Amr take responsibility for your child?"
She said: "O' Commander of the Faithful, I have committed adultery, so purify me."
Imam عليه السلام asked: "Were you married when you committed this act?"
She replied: "Yes."
Imam عليه السلام then asked: "Was your husband present or absent?"
She replied: "He was present."
At this, the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام, raised his head toward the sky and said: "O' Allah سبحانه وتعالى, I have confirmed this against her with four testimonies. And You سبحانه وتعالى have said to Your Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) regarding Your سبحانه وتعالى religion:
'O' Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, whoever abandons one of My سبحانه وتعالى prescribed punishments has opposed Me سبحانه وتعالى and contended with Me سبحانه وتعالى in My سبحانه وتعالى dominion'.
'O' Allah سبحانه وتعالى, I do not abandon Your سبحانه وتعالى punishments, nor do I seek to oppose You سبحانه وتعالى or contend with You سبحانه وتعالى. I do not neglect Your سبحانه وتعالى rulings but rather obey You سبحانه وتعالى and follow the Sunnah of Your سبحانه وتعالى Prophet."
Amr ibn Hurayth then said: "O' Commander of the Faithful, I only offered to take responsibility for her child because I thought you would like that. But if you dislike it, I will not do it."
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام responded: "After four testimonies by Allah سبحانه وتعالى, you will indeed take responsibility for him, and you will do so in humility."
Then Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام stood up, ascended the pulpit, and said: "O' Qanbar, call out among the people that the prayer is gathering."
The people gathered until the mosque was full.
Then Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "O' people, your Imam will go out with this woman at noon to carry out the prescribed punishment upon her, God willing."
Then Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام descended from the pulpit.
When the morning came, Imam عليه السلام went out with the woman, and the people followed, disguised and veiled with their turbans, holding stones in their hands, hidden in their cloaks and sleeves. They proceeded until they reached the open area (Al-Zuhr).
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام ordered a pit to be dug for her, and she was buried in it up to her waist.
Imam عليه السلام then mounted his mule, placed his foot firmly in the stirrup, put his index fingers into his ears, and called out in a loud voice:
"O' people! Verily, Allah سبحانه وتعالى the Blessed and Exalted entrusted His Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) with a trust, and His Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم entrusted me that none should carry out the prescribed punishment except one upon whom there is no prescribed punishment from Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Therefore, whoever among you has a punishment upon him from Allah سبحانه وتعالى like the punishment upon her, let him not execute the punishment upon her."
Upon hearing this, all the people left that day, except for the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام and Imam Hasan ibn Ali عليه السلام and Imam Hussain ibn Ali عليه السلام. They alone carried out the prescribed punishment upon her, and none of the people remained with them.
