What is the status of this narration? I heard it appears in Sahih Bukhari.
رأيت في الجاهلية قردة اجتمع عليها قردة قد زنت فرجموها فرجمتها معهم
Answer
This narration is indeed recorded in Sahih Bukhari as the statement of ‘Amr ibn Maymun (rahimahullah), a Mukhadram. [Those who were alive during the time of Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam but did not get the opportunity to meet him]. The narration is therefore authentic.
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 3849)
Translation
‘Amr ibn Maymun (rahimahullah) says, ‘In the days of Jahiliyyah [Pre-Islamic period], I saw a monkey around which other monkeys had gathered. They were stoning it because it had committed zina. I too, stoned it along with them.
Hafiz Ibn ‘Abdil Barr (rahimahullah) says, ‘It is possible that they were Jinn in the form of monkeys.’ Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) also explains other possibilities.
(Refer: Fathul Bari, Hadith: 3849)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar