And let a party of the Believers witness their punishment.

And let a party of the Believers witness their punishment." As matter of fact, this verse contains 3 commandments: The ordinance of punishing fornicatress and fornicator; (the purpose of fornication is unlawful sexual intercourse). Emphasis on the matter of not being moved by compassion and sentiments at the time of executing divinely prescribed punishments. These sentiments and kindness yield as result only corruption and defilement in society.

But to deactivate the motivations of such sentiments, the Sura brings up the issue of belief in Allah and the Day of Judgment, because the sign of belie in origin and Resurrection is absolute resignation to Allah's commandment.The belief in the Lord of the world, Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise, makes man know [^1] Sura Al-Mumtahanah, No. 60, verse 12 that each commandment is based on a philosophy and wisdom and is not legislated without any reason.

Having faith in Resurrection causes man to feel responsibility for violations and transgressions. Here, there is an interesting tradition that must be noted carefully: The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) says: "(On the Day of Judgment) some of the rulers who have decreased one stripe from the divinely prescribed punishment will be fetched (to the place of gathering). They will be questioned why they had done such a thing. They will answer: 'For having mercy on Your servants!

'Allah will say: "Did you show more mercy to them than I did?" The command of throwing him into Fire will be issued. Another person who has added one stripe to the divinely prescribed punishment will be brought (to the place). He will be asked why he did such an action.

He will answer: 'For preventing then from disobeying You.' Allah will say: 'Were you wiser and more knowing than Me?' Then the command will be issued of throwing him into Fire."[^1] The commandment of attendance of a group of believers in the place where the judgment of punishment is carried out. The aim is not only to make the wrongdoer learn lesson, the aim is that his punishment will work as an admonition for others.

In another word, considering the texture of man's social life, a person's ethical defilements are not limited to one person, but it influences society. For cleaning, the punishment must be carried out in public, as wrong action has become manifest. Thus, in this way, the answer to the question that why Islam allows a man's honour to be lost in the public becomes [^1] The commentary of Fakhr-i-Razi, Vol. 23, p.