Following the punishment for adultery, the decree for slander is issued in the above passage. This is to protect the respect and prestige of people, specially the women in wedlock:ِ

      ``And those who accuse the women in wedlock, and bring not four witnesses to prove it, flog them with eighty lashes, and do not accept their testimony for ever, because they are debauchers.''

      This is a strict warning to those who put forward a slander about other people, and in particular about woman in wedlock without any clear evidence. If a woman's chastity is brought under question, the charge must be supported by four witnesses, which is twice as much as it is needed for general accusations. If the slanderer fails to prove his charge, he himself is to be flogged with eighty lashes; and after that, if he did not repent and did not amend his conduct, he is reckoned among debauchers. Then no one has to accept his testifications for ever. But, if he or she repented and amended, his deprivation of the right of giving evidence, which is some sort of a social disgrace will be cancelled.

      ABUHANIFAH has narrated that he asked Hazrat Imam Sadiq (AS):ِ ``Which one of the two major sins is the greater; adultery, or murder,?''

      Imam Sadiq (AS) answered:ِ ``The murder is greater a sin.'' ABUHANIFAH asked again:ِ ``If so; why then four witnesses are needed to prove a slander, but for the murder two of them will do!?''

      Hazrat Imam answered:ِ ``In the cases of adultery two persons are to be punished, but in the case a murder only one has to be punished.''