...they are cursed in this world and in the Hereafter, and they will have a great punishment." As for the Sunnah, it is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "Avoid the seven destructive sins." They asked: "What are they, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Associating partners with Allah (shirk), magic (sihr), killing the soul which Allah has forbidden, consuming usury, consuming the wealth of an orphan, fleeing from the battlefield, and accusing chaste, believing, unwary women (of adultery)." This is agreed upon. The term "muhsanat" here means those who are chaste. The term "muhsanat" appears in the Quran with four meanings: The first is this [chastity]. The second is in the sense of married women, as in His saying: "And also forbidden to you are married women except those your right hands possess." And His saying: "Chaste women, not unlawful sexual intercourses." The third is in the sense of free women, as in His saying: "And whoever among you cannot afford to marry free, believing women." And His saying: "And [lawful to you are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you." And His saying: "Upon them is half the punishment for free women." The fourth is in the sense of Islam, as in His saying: "And when they have been fortified (muhsan)." Ibn Mas'ud said: "Her fortification is her Islam." The scholars have unanimously agreed on the obligation of the hadd punishment upon one who accuses a chaste person, provided he is legally responsible (mukallaf). The conditions of the fortification (ihsan) which necessitates the hadd punishment