A slave-girl belonging to the house of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ committed fornication. He (the Prophet) said: Rush up, Ali, and inflict the prescribed punishment on her. I then hurried up, and saw that blood was flowing from her, and did not stop. So I came to him and he said: Have you finished inflicting (punishment on her)? I said: I went to her while her blood was flowing. He said: Leave her alone till her bleeding stops; then inflict the prescribed punishment on her. And inflict the prescribed punishment on those whom your right hands possess (i.e. slaves). Abu Dawud said: A similar tradition has been transmitted by Abu al-Ahwas from 'Abd al-A'la, and also by Shu'bah from 'Abd al-A'la. This version has: He said: Do not give her beating until she gives birth to a child. But the former (version) is sounder.

فَجَرَتْ جَارِيَةٌ لآلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ انْطَلِقْ فَأَقِمْ عَلَيْهَا الْحَدَّ فَانْطَلَقْتُ فَإِذَا بِهَا دَمٌ يَسِيلُ لَمْ يَنْقَطِعْ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ أَفَرَغْتَ قُلْتُ أَتَيْتُهَا وَدَمُهَا يَسِيلُ فَقَالَ دَعْهَا حَتَّى يَنْقَطِعَ دَمُهَا ثُمَّ أَقِمْ عَلَيْهَا الْحَدَّ وَأَقِيمُوا الْحُدُودَ عَلَى مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ