What is the prescribed punishment for fornication committed by a person after being freed, but before the knowledge of their freedom is established?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Ḥudūd (Prescribed Penalties)

Book 51 · Issue 4 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If a person commits fornication after being manumitted but before the manumission is known, the punishment for a free person is applied, because the act occurred while they were legally free. If the punishment for a slave was executed before the knowledge of his freedom, the remainder of the punishment for a free person is completed upon the subsequent discovery of his freedom.