Why did Prophet Muhammad perform stoning if it was not advised through quran?

Sources

• ✓ 24:2 · An-Noor

  24:2 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  ٱلزَّانِيَةُ وَٱلزَّانِى فَٱجْلِدُوا۟ كُلَّ وَٰحِدٍۢ مِّنْهُمَا مِا۟ئَةَ جَلْدَةٍۢ ۖ وَلَا تَأْخُذْكُم بِهِمَا رَأْفَةٌۭ فِى دِينِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۖ وَلْيَشْهَدْ عَذَابَهُمَا طَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

  The adulterer and the adulteress, scourge ye each one of them (with) a hundred stripes. And let not pity for the twain withhold you from obedience to Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a party of believers witness their punishment.

• ✓ Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 24:2

  Sunni

  Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 24:2

  This Surah, An-Nur, was revealed in Madinah. Allah begins by stating: “This is a Surah which We have sent down,” indicating the importance of attentively observing its rulings without negating what was revealed earlier. The phrase “and We have ordained it” is explained by Mujahid and Qatadah as meaning that Allah clarified for mankind the lawful and the unlawful, commands and prohibitions, and legal boundaries. Al-Bukhari narrated that whoever reads “We have ordained it” should understand it as a prescription upon this generation and those who come after them. The “clear verses” mentioned refer to elucidations that are straightforward and easily understood, meant to guide people to remembrance and right conduct. The verse under discussion prescribes the punishment for adultery: “The adulteress and the adulterer—flog each one of them a hundred lashes.” This establishes the legal penalty (hudud) for fornication. Scholars have debated details: an unmarried offender (often called a ‘youngster’ or one who has not married) receives one hundred lashes and, according to the majority, is also exiled from his land for a year. Abu Hanifa differed, considering exile discretionary with the judge’s judgment. The majority’s position is supported by a sound hadith narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim and others, reporting from al-Zuhri, who narrated from Ubaydallah, son of Abdullah ibn Utbah ibn Mas'ud, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah and Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani. Two Bedouins came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) confessing adultery: the man was a hired shepherd who committed fornication with his employer’s wife. The employer paid the man’s ransom with sheep and a female camel. When the man inquired about the ruling, scholars told him the punishment was one hundred lashes and exile for a year, and that his wife was to be stoned. The Prophet ruled accordingly, stoning the woman after she confessed, returning the ransom to the employer, and ordering the man’s lashes and exile. This incident strengthens the evidence that an unmarried offender receives lashes and exile. However, if the offender is married (a muhsan - one who is lawfully married and thus 'protected' under Islamic law), he is subject to stoning. Imam Malik reports a narration from Ibn Abbas that Caliph Umar said the stoning punishment was known and carried out by the Prophet and the companions, and he feared that if the verse was not publicly upheld, people might deny it, leaving a divine ordinance unexercised. Muslim scholars narrate multiple chains supporting the authenticity of the stoning punishment, recognizing that its recitation was later abrogated, but its legal ruling remains effective. This is supported by numerous reports in Sahih collections and statements from the Caliph Umar and others, warning against abandoning the stoning punishment. Umar confirmed the validity of stoning despite some saying it was not found in the Qur'an text. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also ordered stoning in the case mentioned and others, such as Ma'iz and Al-Ghamidiya. These reports show that stoning was practiced as a legal punishment, even though there are no explicit mentions of flogging prior to stoning in their cases. Hence, the consensus of the majority of scholars is to apply stoning for the married adulterer and flogging plus exile for the unmarried adulterer. Abu Hanifa and Malik and Shafi’i agree with this, while Imam Ahmad holds that the married adulterer must receive both whip lashes according to the verse and stoning according to the Sunnah. The hadith narrated by Ubadah ibn al-Samit quotes the Prophet stating that Allah has set a clear path: the unmarried adulterer receives one hundred lashes plus exile for a year, while the married adulterer is subject to one hundred lashes and stoning. Allah continues: “And do not let compassion for them prevent you from carrying out Allah’s law.” This means the judge should not withhold the hudud punishments out of mercy or leniency regarding Allah’s legal limits. This is not forbidding natural kindness or softening outside the legal punishment but forbids that mercy should cause neglect or abandonment of the prescribed penalty. Mujahid explains this verse as meaning that once the hudud penalties are raised before the ruler, they must be implemented without neglect. Similar commentary is found from Sa’id ibn Jubayr and ‘Ata ibn Abi Rabah. There are traditions encouraging the preservation of hudud to maintain order. Some say the verse means that the punishment should be implemented firmly to deter wrongdoing, but the blows should not be brutal or result in excessive injury. ‘Amir al-Sha’bi says the compassion is shown in moderation in the severity of the lashes. Others restrict the lashes to be strong enough as deterrent but not cruel. For example, according to Sa’id ibn Abi Arooba, the clothing of the slanderer (qadhif) suspects remains on him during lashes, but the adulterer’s garments are removed before flogging, emphasizing the gravity of the sin and punishment. Report also narrate that when a slave girl of Ibn Umar committed adultery, he inflicted lashes on her legs or back, applying the legal punishment according to the verse. This shows that even if a lesser punishment is implemented, the limit prescribed should not be neglected. Allah adds: “If you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day, then carry out these rulings,” meaning to enforce the hudud without leniency or hesitation, but without causing severe harm. A report mentions a companion expressing compassion towards the animal he sacrificed, and the Prophet encouraged this gentleness. “And let a group of believers witness their punishment”—this stipulates that the flogging be done publicly. This serves as a deterrent and humiliation for the offenders. It also functions as a warning to others; it's a means of public admonition and renunciation of sin. Al-Hasan al-Basri said this phrase means public exposure. Ibn Abbas said the witnessing group is at least one man, and Mujahid and ‘Ikrimah held it could be from one to a thousand. Imam Ahmad affirmed that even one believer suffices for the witnessing, while others opined two, three, four, five, ten witnesses depending on the scholar’s view. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded narrations illustrating the purpose of public witnessing is for invoking Allah’s mercy and repentance for the offenders, not merely public disgrace. In summary, this verse establishes the legal punishment for fornication with detailed rulings distinguishing the unmarried and married offenders, enjoining the implementation of these punishments without leniency that causes neglect, and prescribing public witnessing to maximize deterrence and moral effect. This commentary relies on hadith and scholarly consensus, while also acknowledging some differences among jurists about details such as exile and combining punishments.

• ✓ Sunan Abu Dawud 40:68

  Sunni Sahih (per Al-Albani)

  Sunan Abu Dawud · Book 40, Hadith 68 · Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas

  Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, gave a sermon saying: "Allah sent Muhammad, peace be upon him, with the truth and revealed to him the Book. In that which was revealed is the verse of stoning, which we recited and understood. The Messenger of Allah stoned, and we stoned after him. I feared that, if time prolonged among the people, someone would say: 'We find no verse of stoning in Allah's Book,' and thus they would go astray by abandoning a prescribed duty from Allah Almighty. Stoning is due for the married person of either sex if clear evidence exists, or there is pregnancy or confession. By Allah, if it were not for people’s objection that Umar added something to Allah’s Book, I would have recorded it."