Prescribed Punishments

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that if someone commits a sin that requires imposing a legally prescribed punishment, such as adultery or theft, and he is punished for it in this world, that punishment erases the sin and absolves him from its penalty in the Hereafter. This is because Allah is too generous and merciful to impose two punishments for the same sin on his slave. Moreover, if Allah conceals someone's sin in this world, and he is not punished for this sin, and Allah forgives and pardons him, then Allah Almighty is too gracious and generous to retract and punish for a sin He has already forgiven and pardoned.

1. The greatness of Allah's justice, generosity, and mercy.
2. Implementing the legally prescribed punishment in this world expiates the sin.
3. Anyone who commits a sin that requires a legally prescribed punishment should conceal himself by Allah's concealment and hasten to sincere repentance.

سنن الترمذي (4/ 312) (2626). سنن ابن ماجه (3/ 627) (2604). مرشد ذوي الحجا والحاجة إلى سنن ابن ماجه والقول المكتفى على سنن المصطفى (15/ 224). التيسير بشرح الجامع الصغير (2/ 399). فيض القدير (6/ 65).

The Prophet (ﷺ) informs that Allah has prescribed things and ordained obligations, and so fulfill them and do not neglect or fail to perform them; He has set certain limits and deterrents to restrain and deter you from what is not pleasing to Him; so do not exceed them by doing things not prescribed by the Shariah; and He has forbidden things, so do not engage in them or come close to them. Apart from these, there are things about which He kept silent out of mercy toward His servants. They remain permissible as they were originally, so do not search for them.

1. The Hadīth is a proof that Allah is the Lawgiver, as all command lies in His Hand, Exalted be He.
2. The Hadīth comprises the Shar‘i (legal) rules regarding rulings and permissibility. A Shar‘i ruling is either subject to silence or spoken about. It either pertains to something enjoined by way of obligation or desirability or prohibited by way of prohibition or undesirability, or it is permissible.
3. What Allah remained silent about—as He has neither enjoined it, set a limit for it, nor forbidden it—is then lawful.
4. The Prophet's (ﷺ) eloquence is evident in the way he presented the Hadīth with such clear and distinct division.
5. It is a duty to observe the obligations enjoined by Allah Almighty.
6. It is prohibited to transgress the limits set by Allah Almighty.

سنن الدارقطني (4396). المعجم الكبير للطبراني (22/221). جامع العلوم والحكم (ص617). شرح الأربعين النووية للعثيمين (ص309). توضيح الأحكام من بلوغ المرام (6/ 210).