What is the ruling regarding witnesses who testify to the same act of *zina* (fornication/adultery) occurring in different specified locations?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Ḥudūd (Prescribed Penalties)
Primary text
If two witnesses testify that *zina* occurred in one specific house, and two other witnesses testify that *zina* occurred in another house, all four witnesses are considered slanderers (*qadhifah*) and must receive the prescribed punishment (*hadd*). This view is held by Malik and Al-Shafi'i. The evidence is that four complete witnesses were not established for a single act of *zina*, thus the penalty applies, similar to the case where only two witnesses testify alone. For the accused, no punishment is due in this scenario according to the main view.
Supporting text
Abu Bakr preferred that the witnesses should not receive the punishment (*hadd*), a view also held by Al-Nakha'i, Abu Thawr, and the *Ashab al-Ra'y* (Hanafi school), because they collectively completed the requirement of four witnesses.