Is it permissible for the one who has been slandered to forgive the slanderer and waive the Hadd punishment for him?
Defamation (Qadhf) is accusing a person of adultery. Whoever accuses a chaste person of this is liable to the punishment for defamation, which is eighty lashes, as stated in the Almighty's saying: (And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes) An-Nur/4.
The punishment for defamation is a right of the defamed person. Therefore, it is not carried out unless he demands it. This is the view of the four Imams. The punishment is dropped if the defamed person forgives, even if he demanded it and then forgave, because it is his right, and it is not carried out without his demand.
Accordingly, the punishment for defamation: 1. Is dropped by the forgiveness of the defamed person. 2. Is not carried out except by the demand of the defamed person.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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