Is the prescribed punishment for defamation due upon one who accuses another using terms like 'infidel' (kafir), 'sinner' (fasic), 'thief' (sariq), 'hypocrite' (munafiq), 'wicked one' (fajir), 'evil one' (khabith), or citing physical defects such as 'one-eyed' (a'war), 'amputee' (aqta'), or 'blind man' (a'ma) or the son of a blind man, lame one?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Ḥudūd (Prescribed Penalties)

Book 51 · Issue 4 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

There is no prescribed punishment for defamation in any of these cases because the accusation involves terms that do not establish the hadd, just as in the case of accusing someone of being a liar or a slanderer. There is no known disagreement among the scholars regarding this point.

Supporting text

However, the accuser is subject to discretionary chastisement (ta'zir) for verbally abusing and harming people, which resembles the ruling for someone whose accusation does not legally necessitate the hadd.