that he have counterparts. It has been narrated from Uthman that he said: "The adulteress wishes that all women had committed adultery." Our argument is the generality of the verses; he is a person of integrity whose testimony is accepted in matters other than adultery, so it is accepted in cases of adultery just like anyone else. Whoever has his testimony accepted in cases of homicide has it accepted in cases of adultery, just like the child of a legitimate marriage (2). Ibn al-Mundhir said: What they argued with is erroneous for several reasons: First, the child of zina has not committed an ugly act such that he would desire others to have counterparts in it. Second, I do not know what is mentioned from Uthman to be established from him, and it is most likely that it is not established from him (3). Furthermore, it is not permissible for Uthman to utter a statement based on conjecture regarding the inner thoughts of a woman whom he did not hear state it. Third, if the adulterer were to repent, his testimony would be accepted, even though he is the one who committed the ugly act; so if his testimony is accepted despite what they mentioned, then others are more entitled to have their testimony accepted. It is not permissible for the sin of the parent to attach to his child [more than what attached to the parent, nor does the ruling extend to anyone else without proof, given that nothing of the parent's sin attaches to his child] (5); according to the words of Allah, the Exalted: "No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another" (6). The child of zina has not done anything to warrant a legal ruling against him.

1902 - Issue; he said: (And if the slanderer repents, his testimony is accepted.)

The summary of this is that if the slanderer was a husband and he substantiated his accusation with evidence or li'an (imprecation), or if he was a stranger and substantiated it with evidence or the admission of the person accused, then no wickedness (fisq), hadd punishment, or rejection of testimony is attached to his accusation. However, if he does not substantiate (1) his accusation with any of that, then the obligation of the hadd punishment is attached to him, as well as the ruling of his wickedness and the rejection of his testimony; based on the words of Allah, the Exalted: "And those who accuse chaste women and then do not bring four witnesses, lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept their testimony ever. And those are the defiantly disobedient (fasiqun)" (2). If he repents, the hadd punishment is not lifted from him, but the wickedness is removed without disagreement. His testimony is accepted according to us. It was narrated...