Taʻzīrāt and Banā’ al-‘Uqalā’ in Penal Jurisprudence and Criminal Law

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Jurisprudence and Principles of Islamic Law, Al-Mustafa International University, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Department of Jurisprudence and Principles of Islamic Law, Al-Mustafa International University, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

The element of banāʾ al-ʿuqalāʾ (the established practice of rational people) in jurisprudence and penal law is a source that has consistently drawn the attention of scholars and is considered a cornerstone of reasoning in penal matters. Islamic punishments—namely ḥudūd (fixed penalties), qiṣāṣ (retribution), and taʿzīrāt (discretionary punishments)—although practiced in various forms before Islam and during the era of the Prophet (ṣ) and the Imams (ʿa), were generally prevalent among the rational people of the world. Islam, while systematizing these existing punishments, affirmed and endorsed them. It is evident that without such prevalence and common practice, the concept of an endorsed ruling (ḥukm imḍāʾī) would not exist. The purpose of this study is to articulate the role of banāʾ al-ʿuqalāʾ in the domain of taʿzīrāt as an effective and clear proof, thereby clarifying its status and active role as a source within penal jurisprudence and criminal law. To elucidate this topic, a library-based methodology involving the review and comparison of reliable documents will be employed. A significant finding of this research is that the penal chapters of Islam not only do not conflict with the sīrat al-ʿuqalāʾ (the conduct of rational people) but are also in complete harmony with the principles accepted by rational people globally. Consequently, this research affirms the principle of the individualization and personal nature of punishment, a concept prevalent among rational people. It also serves to refute misconceptions regarding Islamic penal regulations—such as allegations of violence, conflict with human dignity, and incompatibility with modern times—which primarily stem from a lack of understanding of the philosophy behind Islamic penal rulings. The article will first describe and explain the relevant topics based on jurisprudential and legal sources, followed by a critique and analysis of existing views, while also examining legislative documents.

Keywords

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