ḥadd
Quick Summary
In Islamic law, known as Sharia, duties are divided into those owed to God (ritual practices) and those owed to others (interpersonal matters). The latter category constitutes law in the Western sense.1
Within Sharia, certain offenses are classified as Hudud crimes, which carry fixed and unalterable punishments. These include death for apostasy, amputation of a hand for theft, and death by stoning for married individuals committing extramarital sexual relations. For other offenses, judges have discretion in sentencing.123
The development of Islamic law, or fiqh, began with the revelations in the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad. Over time, different schools of law emerged, incorporating regional traditions and scholarly interpretations.4
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