Q: I was asked this question by a Christian. If you can help me by answering this it will have a great effect on a fellow Christian brother in humanity. Therefore here is the question:
1. Can slander of a chaste women be forgiven? Yes [24:5], No [24:23].
Abrogation? The words of the lord are perfect in truth and justice; there is none who can change His words."[Sura 6:115] Also see 6:34 and 10:64. But then Allah (Muhammad?) sees the need to exchange some of them for "better ones"[Surah 2:106,16:101] and it is not for ignorant people to question Allah because of such practises!
2. What is the punishment for adultery? Flogging with 100 stripes (men and women) [Sura 24:2],"confine them to houses until death do claim them (lifelong house arrest -for the women) [4:15]. For men:"If they repent and amend, leave them alone"[sura 4:16].
Sura 24:2 contradicts both the procedure for women and men in sura 4 and why? Is the punishment for women and men equal in sura 24 but different in sura 4?
A:
1. Since the wrong was done to the chaste woman then it is subject to her forgiving.
2. This (the verse of Surah Nisaa) was the first punishment which was temporary and thereafter the aayat in Surah Noor came to substitute it to be the final punishment.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by: