What is the ruling concerning a woman who said to a man: "I will tell your family that the child in my womb is yours, and I will expose and disgrace you," and then claimed she was joking and not pregnant, and is the Hadd punishment for slander applicable to her?

What this woman said is reprehensible, and she bears a sin for it, because it frightens a Muslim, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade that. She must repent and seek forgiveness from the man. Her statement does not amount to a charge of slander (qadhf) because she did not explicitly or implicitly accuse him of zina (fornication/adultery); she did not tell anyone about that. However, she is a liar, reckless, and disobedient to the Prophet's prohibition, peace and blessings be upon him. The punishment for slander (hadd al-qadhf) is not applicable to her, but the ruler (wali al-amr) may discipline her.