Is stating to someone, 'You are more adulterous than so-and-so,' or 'You are the most adulterous person,' considered defamation (*qadhf*)?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Ḥudūd (Prescribed Penalties)
Primary text
Stating to a person, 'You are more adulterous than so-and-so' (*azna min fulan*), or 'You are the most adulterous person' (*azna an-nas*), constitutes defamation against the addressed person. The basis for this is that the superlative form (*af'al* - more/most) implies that both individuals share the original act (adultery), with one being superior in that trait, similar to saying 'He is more generous than Hatim.'
Supporting text
There are differing opinions regarding whether this statement constitutes defamation against the person mentioned as the standard of comparison (the 'so-and-so'). One view, adopted by Al-Qadi, affirms that it is defamation against both, based on the implication of shared action. Another view states it is defamation against the addressee only, because the superlative form can sometimes be used to describe a single individual, as evidenced by verses such as 'Is one who guides to the truth more worthy of being followed, or one who does not guide unless he is guided?' (Quran 10:35) and Lot's statement, 'My daughters are purer for you' (Quran 11:78), implying purity over the alternative.