tazir

Ta'zir (also ta'zīr or ta'zir) is a category of penalties in Islamic law for offenses not prescribed with fixed penalties in the Qur'an or Hadith. The term comes from the Arabic root z-r, meaning to deter or punish. In classical fiqh, ta'zir offenses are addressed by a judge or ruler who imposes a discretionary penalty intended to deter wrongdoing, reform the offender, and protect society. Penalties within ta'zir are varied and may include fines, imprisonment, corporal punishment, public admonition, community service, or banishment, among other sanctions, depending on the jurisdiction and the offender's circumstances.

Ta'zir sits alongside hudud and qisas as a flexible category. Hudud are fixed punishments for specific crimes described in primary texts, and qisas deals with retaliation or financial compensation for bodily harm; ta'zir fills gaps where texts are silent or where flexible punishment is deemed appropriate. In modern practice, many Islamic-majority countries codify ta'zir with ranges or guidelines, allowing judges to tailor penalties within statutory limits.

Evidence and procedure for ta'zir offenses generally follow the general criminal procedures of the jurisdiction, and may not require the stringent proofs required for hudud offenses. Jurisprudence and policy on ta'zir vary by school, country, and era, reflecting differing views on deterrence, rehabilitation, and arbitrariness.