Therefore...

Therefore, ‘Umar (too) wrote back to al-Mughirah thus: “To begin, an act of yours has been reported to me. If such-and-such (i.e. Abu Bakrah) is corroborated against you, it would have been better for you to have died before this day.” So, he (‘Umar) wrote to him and the witnesses to come to him. When they got to him, they testified, and Abu Bakrah, Shibl b. Ma’bad, and Abu ‘Abd Allah Nafi’ testified.

As such, ‘Umar said when these three people testified, “Four (people) oppressed al-Mughirah.” His matter was very unbearable for ‘Umar . So, when Ziyad stood to testify, he (‘Umar) said, “You will testify with the truth, Allah willing.” Then he (Ziyad) testified, saying, “As for adultery, I do not testify in favour of it. However, I saw a disgusting affair .” As a result, ‘’Umar said, “ Allah Akbar ! Punish them!” So, they (the first three witnesses) were lashed.

After Abu Bakrah had been beaten, he stood up and said, “I testify that he (al-Mughirah) committed adultery”. So, ‘Umar was about to repeat the punishment upon him. But, ‘Ali said, “If you lash him (again), then you must stone your companion (i.e. al-Mughirah).” Due to this, he (‘Umar) left him, and did not beat him.

Thus, he (Abu Bakrah) did not falsely accuse anyone of adultery again after that.[^6] ‘Allamah al-Albani has this comment about this exact report: أخرجه ابن أبى شيبة وعنه البيهقى (8/334 ـ 335) . قلت: وإسناده صحيح. It is documented by Ibn Abi Shaybah, and from him bu al-Bayhaqi (8/334-335).

I say: Its chain is sahih .[^7] Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah again documents: حدثنا أبو بكر قال حدثنا ابن علية عن التيمي عن أبي عثمان قال: لما قدم أبو بكرة وصاحباه على المغيرة جاء زياد فقال له عمر: رجل لن يشهد إن شاء الله إلا بحق، قال: رأيت انبهارا ومجلسا سيئا فقال عمر: هل رأيت المرود دخل المكحلة، قال: لا، قال: فأمر بهم فجلدوا. Abu Bakr – Ibn ‘Ilyah – al-Tamimi – Abu ‘Uthman: After Abu Bakrah and his two companions had testified against al-Mughirah, Ziyad came.

So, ‘Umar said, “He is a man who will never testify, Allah willing, except with the truth.” He (Ziyad) said, “I saw a spectacle and an evil assembly ”. So, ‘Umar said, “Did you see the kohl stick (i.e. the male private organ of al-Mughirah) enter the kohl container (i.e.

the female private organ of the woman)?” He (Ziyad) replied, “No.” Therefore, he (‘Umar) ordered that they (Abu Bakr and his two companions) be whipped.[^8] ‘Allamah al-Albani again copies the above and says: قلت: وهذا إسناد صحيح على شرط الشيخين.