What is the required number of witnesses for bestiality if the Hadd punishment is deemed obligatory?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Ḥudūd (Prescribed Penalties)
Primary text
If bestiality necessitates the prescribed punishment (Hadd), it must be established by four witnesses, following the ruling applied to Zina.
Supporting text
If bestiality only necessitates discretionary reprimand (Ta'zir), there are two views. One view holds that it is established by two witnesses, as it does not incur Hadd, akin to other civil rights claims. The second view, held by the Qadi, maintains that it requires four witnesses because it is a grave immorality and involves penetration into a forbidden passage, thus resembling Zina.