Arabic (Original)
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ الْأَصْبَهَانِيُّ أنبأ أَبُو مُحَمَّدِ بْنُ حَيَّانَ ثنا ابْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ بَحْرٍ ثنا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَبِيبِ بْنِ عَرَبِيٍّ ثنا خَالِدُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ ثنا أَشْعَثُ قَالَ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ هَذَا كَانَ قَبْلَ الْحُدُودِ قَالَ الشَّيْخُ وَرُوِّينَا عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ مِثْلَ حَدِيثِ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْمُحَبِّقِ وَرُوِّينَا عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ اسْتَغْفِرِ اللهَ وَلَا تَعُدْ
English Translation
Discussion of the hadd for adultery (zina) and its conditions — the requirement of four witnesses, confession, or clear evidence. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was extremely cautious in applying the hadd for zina, often giving the accused opportunities to retract their confession and exhausting all possible doubts before carrying out the punishment.