Question:  I am curious to know whether the stoning punishment has any roots in the Quran, or in Islam in general?

Fatwa:  Stoning is called the hadd of "Allaho Akbar" (Allah is the greatest) in the hadith.  It is not prescribed in the Quran, but is established by the Prophet Mohammad based on the rule making authority he was granted by the Surah Hashr.  His Excellency devised this punishment for married men and women who are in a position to properly satisfy their sexual desires, but commit adultery out of vagary.  

However, we must note that the hadith prescribe certain stringent conditions before this punishment can be imposed.  Furthermore, for the executors of this punishment there are certain stringent qualifications prescribed in the Shari'a.  We believe that ordinarily such qualifications are not found but in the Infallible Imams.  

Given the foregoing, we are of the view that Islam does not intend this punishment to be established readily.