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What is the optimal solution for dealing with the suspicion of repeated adultery by one of the maternal aunts, and what is the extent of the sin incurred by delving into this matter to resolve it? Is it necessary to inform the four witnesses for the pillars of testimony to be complete?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Adultery is a grave sin, and accusing someone of it without fulfilling the conditions for its proof is a serious matter. Allah Almighty says: "And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and never accept their testimony thereafter. And those are the defiantly disobedient" [An-Nur:4]. And the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Avoid the seven destructive sins… [one of them is] slandering chaste, innocent, believing women." The mentioned doubts and suspicions are not considered sufficient proof of adultery; rather, they are proof of unlawful seclusion (khalwah). You must advise your aunt and the man to avoid unlawful seclusion. For witnesses to adultery, seven conditions are required: four free, upright, Muslim men, who accurately describe the act of adultery, and testify in a single gathering.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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