The crime of false accusation of adultery
Accusing an innocent person with adultery or any immoral acts is strictly forbidden by God by clear statements. All Muslim scholars agree that it is a cardinal crime; due to the harm caused to the person and society.
The crime of false accusation of adultery
Qadhf is an Arabic root that originally means ‘throwing stones or similar objects’, and then came to be used to mean accusing others of committing immoral offences such as adultery and fornication, as such accusations also cause harm to the accused. In Islamic terminology it refers to false accusation of adultery or sodomy.
Ruling: Making a false accusation of adultery is one of the major sins and it is forbidden by clear statements in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and by the unanimity of scholars. It is absolutely forbidden to accuse anyone of immoral and lewd action.
:Allah says
‘Indeed, those who [falsely] accuse chaste, unaware and believing women are cursed in this and the Hereafter; and they will have a great punishment’
(24:23)
Abu Hurayrah reports that the Prophet (peace be upon him) urged believers to:
‘avoid the seven major sins’.
Related by al-Bukhari, hadith No. 2,766; Muslim, hadith No. 89
He mentioned among these the:
‘false accusation of chaste believing women of adultery’.
Al-Nadawi, Al-Fiqh al-Muyassar, p. 369
All Muslim scholars agree that making such a false accusation is strictly forbidden and consider it as a major sin.[1]
references
- Ibn Qudamah, Al-Mughni, vol. 8, p. 215