But an outright order to torture, possibly to death, people who have sex without the approval of the authorities is not hard to understand, and that's in the Qu'ran.
I'm curious - can you point me to the relevant quotes?
edit: is this:
024.002 SHAKIR: (As for) the fornicatress and the fornicator, flog each of them, (giving) a hundred stripes, and let not pity for them detain you in the matter of obedience to Allah, if you believe in Allah and the last day, and let a party of believers witness their chastisement.
024.002SHAKIR: (As for) the fornicatress and the fornicator, flog each of them, (giving) a hundred stripes, and let not pity for them detain you in the matter of obedience to Allah, if you believe in Allah and the last day, and let a party of believers witness their chastisement.
024.003SHAKIR: The fornicator shall not marry any but a fornicatress or idolatress, and (as for) the fornicatress, none shall marry her but a fornicator or an idolater; and it is forbidden to the believers.
024.004SHAKIR: And those who accuse free women then do not bring four witnesses, flog them, (giving) eighty stripes, and do not admit any evidence from them ever; and these it is that are the transgressors,
024.005SHAKIR: Except those who repent after this and act aright, for surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
024.006SHAKIR: And (as for) those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves, the evidence of one of these (should be taken) four times, bearing Allah to witness that he is most surely of the truthful ones.
024.007SHAKIR: And the fifth (time) that the curse of Allah be on him if he is one of the liars.
024.008SHAKIR: And it shall avert the chastisement from her if she testify four times, bearing Allah to witness that he is most surely one of the liars;
024.009SHAKIR: And the fifth (time) that the wrath of Allah be on her if he is one of the truthful.
024.010SHAKIR: And were it not for Allah's grace upon you and His mercy-- and that Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), Wise!
024.011SHAKIR: Surely they who concocted the lie are a party from among you. Do not regard it an evil to you; nay, it is good for you. Every man of them shall have what he has earned of sin; and (as for) him who took upon himself the main part thereof, he shall have a grievous chastisement.
024.012SHAKIR: Why did not the believing men and the believing women, when you heard it, think well of their own people, and say: This is an evident falsehood?
024.013SHAKIR: Why did they not bring four witnesses of it? But as they have not brought witnesses they are liars before Allah.
024.014SHAKIR: And were it not for Allah's grace upon you and His mercy in this world and the hereafter, a grievous chastisement would certainly have touched you on account of the discourse which you entered into.
Sorry for the long copy/paste, but it is important that the Qur'an is quoted in it's context (
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/024.qmt.html).
Punishment for fornication/adultry is harsh - but not as harsh as the requirements to prove it. The accusers must produce four witnesses of good moral standing, people of dubious background/character are not allowed etc and failure to do so results in a punishment for them. What's more the community should judge on the (good) character of the accused also.