a woman came to Umar and said: "O' (political) Commander of the Faithful, I have committed fornication, so establish upon me the punishment of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic." Umar ordered that she be stoned. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as), the (divinely appointed) Commander of the Faithful, was present and said: "Ask her how she committed fornication." So they asked her, and she said: "I was in a desolate area of the land, and I was overtaken by severe thirst. Then, I saw a tent in the distance, so I went toward it and found an Arab man inside. I asked him for water, but he refused to give me any unless I allowed him access to myself. I turned away from him and fled, but my thirst intensified until my eyes sank in, and my tongue became dry. When the thirst overwhelmed me, I returned to him, and he gave me water to drink and then had his way with me." Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "This is the case that Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, referred to in His (swt) words: 'But whoever is compelled by necessity, neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him.' (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:173). This woman neither sought it nor transgressed, so release her." Umar then said, "If not for Ali (as), Umar would have perished."