Rajm

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | 700+ words | Copyright

Rajm (Arab., ‘to stone’, ‘to curse’).
1. The punishment of stoning to death for adultery or sexual intercourse outside the permitted relationships (zināʾ). The punishment appears in ḥadīth, not in Qurʾān, and is surrounded by careful conditions, e.g. four competent male witnesses must report the incident in detail, and if their evidence breaks down, they are themselves liable to severe punishment.

2. The casting of seven small stones during al-ḥajj. The original meaning is obscure (the rite is not mentioned in the Qurʾān). Traditionally, it is associated with the driving away of Satan (Shaitan, known as rajīm in Qurʾān).

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JOHN BOWKER. "Rajm." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Rajm." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Rajm.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Rajm." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Rajm.html

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