What is the consequence when a person confesses to committing adultery with a woman?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Ḥudūd (Prescribed Penalties)

Book 51 · Issue 4 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If an individual confesses to having committed adultery with a woman, he is considered a slanderer against her, irrespective of whether the punishment for adultery is legally enforced upon him based on that confession or not. This is supported by Ibn al-Mundhir and Abu Thawr, similar to the view of Al-Shafi'i.

Supporting text

Abu Hanifa maintains that the punishment for slander is not required because the act could have occurred while the woman was coerced or involved in a case of erroneous sexual intercourse (shubha).