As for his statement that Allah did not command standing, we say: He also did not command sitting, nor did He specify the manner, so we came to know it through another proof. It is not valid to draw an analogy between a man and a woman in this regard, because the woman’s [state] requires being covered, and there is a fear of exposing her. Once this is established, the blows are distributed across his entire body so that every limb receives its share, with more strikes applied to fleshy areas like the buttocks and thighs. The lethal spots—the head, face, and private parts—are to be avoided, both for the man and the woman alike. Malik said: The back and its surroundings are to be struck. Abu Yusuf said: The head is also to be struck because Ali did not exclude it. Our argument against Malik is the statement of Ali, and the fact that whatever is besides the three members is not a lethal spot, so it resembles the back. Our argument against Abu Yusuf is that the head is a lethal spot, so it resembles the face, and because he might strike him on his head and cause him to lose his hearing, sight, or intellect, or even kill him, while the intent is to discipline him, not to kill him. Their claim that Ali did not exclude it is rejected, for we have already mentioned that he said: "Avoid the head and the face." Even if he did not mention it explicitly, he mentioned it by implication, as it carries the same meaning as what he did exclude, and thus it is analogous to it.

The second issue: He shall not be stretched out, nor shall he be bound. We know of no disagreement among them on this. Ibn Mas'ud said: "There is no stretching, shackling, or stripping in our religion." The companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) carried out lashings, and it was never reported of any of them that they stretched, shackled, or stripped [the offender]. His clothes are not removed from him; rather, he remains in one or two garments. If he is wearing a fur coat or a lined cloak, it is removed, because if it were left on him, he would not feel the pain of the lashes. Ahmad said: "If winter clothes were left on him, he would not feel the lashing." Malik said: "He is to be stripped, because the command to lash him necessitates direct contact with his body." Our argument is the statement of Ibn Mas'ud, and we do not know of any disagreement among the Companions regarding it. Allah the Almighty did not command his stripping; He only commanded his lashing, and whoever is lashed over the garment has indeed been lashed.

The third issue: The lashing is performed with a whip. We know of no disagreement among the people of knowledge regarding this, except...