What is the meaning of the Hadith: "The virgin male and female are to be scourged and exiled; the previously married male and female are to be scourged and stoned; and the old male and female are to be stoned"?

This hadith is very weak due to a defect in its chain of transmission, and it contradicts other authentic narrations from Ubayy ibn Ka'b that are his own statements and not words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

Summary: 1. Punishment for the Unmarried (Virgin): It is established in the Qur'an and Sunnah, and there is a consensus among scholars, that an unmarried fornicator is to be flogged one hundred lashes. As for banishment (exile for a year), the majority of scholars hold it to be sound and that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, acted upon it. However, Imam Malik disagreed regarding the banishment of women, and Imam Abu Hanifa made it subject to the judge's discretion. 2. Punishment for the Married (Muhsan): Scholars are unanimous that a married fornicator is to be stoned. As for combining flogging and stoning for the married fornicator, there is a difference of opinion: the majority of scholars believe in stoning only, while others believe in flogging then stoning. 3. Punishment for the Elderly: What has been narrated from Ubayy ibn Ka'b and Masruq is that an elderly fornicator is flogged and stoned, whereas the majority of scholars hold that the punishment for the married fornicator is one, whether young or old.