What is the ruling when one says, 'I meant you follow the religion of Lot,' or 'You love boys'?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Ḥudūd (Prescribed Penalties)

Book 51 · Issue 2 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

For statements such as 'I meant you follow the religion of Lot,' 'you love boys,' or 'you adopt the character traits of the people of Lot in your gatherings not involving sexual immorality,' two legal opinions exist, derived from the primary narrations concerning the previous issue, as these fall under the same semantic category. The ruling hinges on the speaker's explanation, such that if the explanation is interpreted as something not subject to Hadd, like meaning 'O afflicted one' (Ya Maflooj) concerning a non-genital issue, then no Hadd is due. If the explanation is interpreted as the act of the people of Lot, Hadd is incumbent.