DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - 4 witnesses for adultery, what if they lie?

**propolo** · 04-23-2012, 07:31 AM

4 credible witnesses, and they would also be cross examined independently by competent people

these matters are not taken lightly

there is a whole shariah system,and the hudood is not the aim

also those bearing false witness are also warned and punished,so witnesses better be truthful, they are not just taken as they say so
even their lifestyles and personal conduct could be brought up

From what I understand, they are considered to be liars if in the past they had falsely accused someone of adultery without witnesses. But this is something very rare as there are very few people who have been guilty of this

Other than that I have not seen anything in the Quran or anywhere else about the character of the witnesses being examined (except them being insane for example or that kind of thing)

But 4 or more evil clever people who want to kill an innocent person could easily conspire together. One possibility that comes to my mind is that someone actually commits adultery, then a group of people who witness it decide to reveal this but then the real adulterer gets his friends or relatives to side with him and threaten to falsely accuse one of the witnesses of adultery if he tells the truth.
Now what happens is that one of the 4 real witnesses has decided not to confess due to being threatened and the 3 honest witnesses will be punished by the Judge for failing to bring another witness... and since they are honest Muslims, they wont tell anyone to give false witness and end up being punished by the Judge themselves... So 3 of the real witnesses end up being punished and the real adulterer is unharmed!!!

Another very likely possibility is that an adulterer is killed but then his family decide to take revenge, so they conspire against the people who witnessed the adultery and falsely accuse them of adultery or pay people to falsely accuse them of adultery. Now what happens? The innocent witnesses are punished??

There are numerous other such scenarios that I've thought of and it didn't take too much time for me to come up with these thoughts. This is why I feel there has to be something other than just 4 witnesses required for punishing this or any other crime

04-23-2012, 07:31 AM	#5
propolo Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 480 Senior Member	4 credible witnesses, and they would also be cross examined independently by competent people these matters are not taken lightly there is a whole shariah system,and the hudood is not the aim also those bearing false witness are also warned and punished,so witnesses better be truthful, they are not just taken as they say so even their lifestyles and personal conduct could be brought up From what I understand, they are considered to be liars if in the past they had falsely accused someone of adultery without witnesses. But this is something very rare as there are very few people who have been guilty of this Other than that I have not seen anything in the Quran or anywhere else about the character of the witnesses being examined (except them being insane for example or that kind of thing) But 4 or more evil clever people who want to kill an innocent person could easily conspire together. One possibility that comes to my mind is that someone actually commits adultery, then a group of people who witness it decide to reveal this but then the real adulterer gets his friends or relatives to side with him and threaten to falsely accuse one of the witnesses of adultery if he tells the truth. Now what happens is that one of the 4 real witnesses has decided not to confess due to being threatened and the 3 honest witnesses will be punished by the Judge for failing to bring another witness... and since they are honest Muslims, they wont tell anyone to give false witness and end up being punished by the Judge themselves... So 3 of the real witnesses end up being punished and the real adulterer is unharmed!!! Another very likely possibility is that an adulterer is killed but then his family decide to take revenge, so they conspire against the people who witnessed the adultery and falsely accuse them of adultery or pay people to falsely accuse them of adultery. Now what happens? The innocent witnesses are punished?? There are numerous other such scenarios that I've thought of and it didn't take too much time for me to come up with these thoughts. This is why I feel there has to be something other than just 4 witnesses required for punishing this or any other crime
	Quote