Allah the Almighty says: [Surah An-Nur: 4]. In this verse, the difference between description, legal ruling, and punishment is clarified. The description in the verse (the act that occurred) is (slandering chaste women). This is a description, not a legal ruling, nor a punishment. The legal ruling here is immorality, and those who commit this act are immoral. The punishment that Allah has prescribed for whoever commits this act is eighty lashes. As for the legal criterion that should be observed when applying the legal ruling and punishment to the perpetrator, it is that they did not bring four witnesses to what they accused the chaste women of.

This verse differentiates between description, legal ruling, and punishment. The description refers to stating a person's condition, and what they are involved in through speech, action, or belief. It is perceived by the senses, and before the legal ruling is conveyed. Revelation is not required for its perception, and it does not have the conditions or pillars of a legal ruling. Rather, it is an independent and separate matter, even though the legal ruling is based upon it. As for the legal ruling, it refers to the ruling that Allah has legislated for this description, and for the perpetrator involved in this description, taking into consideration the criteria set by the Sharia (fulfillment of conditions and absence of impediments) so that the legal ruling and punishment can be applied to the perpetrator. As we see, the legal ruling only occurs after the report, and it is only perceived through revelation.