taqrir

Taqrir, from the Arabic term meaning approval or acknowledgment, is a concept in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) referring to tacit acceptance of a statement, act, or transaction by a person in authority, such as a judge, ruler, or other senior figure, in the presence of the parties involved. It functions as a form of evidence in legal rulings even though no explicit declaration is made.

Taqrir differs from explicit admission (iqrar), which is a direct confession by a party, and from formal testimony (shahada). In taqrir, the authority’s silent approval or confirmation of what has occurred or been claimed provides justification for treating the act as valid or binding. The essence is that the authority’s acceptance, not a self-assertion by the claimant, ratifies the matter.

The evidentiary weight of taqrir varies among classical schools of Islamic law. Some authorities treat it as strong evidence comparable to a witnessed act, while others emphasize caution, limiting its applicability to contexts where the approving authority had legitimate jurisdiction and awareness of the relevant facts. The exact scope—such as whether taqrir can validate contracts, debts, or other transactions—differs among madhahib and historical fiqh treatises.

Common examples include a sale, loan, or other transaction occurring in the presence of a judge or authority who does not object or who explicitly approves the arrangement after considering the circumstances. The result is that the taqrir is taken as confirmation of the transaction’s legality or propriety.

In modern discussions, taqrir remains a recognized concept in classical fiqh references, used to describe tacit forms of endorsement and their role as evidence within Islamic law. It is often discussed alongside explicit iqrar and formal shahada to delineate different modes of establishing legal facts.