Is the legal standard for witnessing adultery the same when witnesses testify to the act occurring in two different, close corners of the same house as it is for a single location?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Ḥudūd (Prescribed Penalties)
Primary text
If two corners of a house where adultery occurred are close to each other, the testimony of the four witnesses (two for each corner) is considered complete, and the Hadd is established. This is because it is possible that the act began in one corner and concluded in the other, or that the witnesses attributed the location based on proximity to them. This is treated as if all witnesses agreed upon a single location, even though the physical location is technically split.
Supporting text
The potential for the act to consist of two separate incidents does not constitute a doubt that warrants setting aside the Hadd, because if all witnesses agreed on one spot, the possibility of error or division still exists, yet the Hadd remains obligatory.