Definition

Noun: - (Islamic Law) A category of offense: In Islamic jurisprudence, a tazir crime refers to a minor offense or violation for which no specific punishment (hadd) is prescribed in the Quran or the Sunnah. The punishment is left to the discretion of a judge or ruler, who determines a corrective penalty appropriate to the circumstances, the offender, and the needs of society.

Usage

• The term is used specifically within the context of Islamic legal systems to classify and discuss offenses that fall outside the fixed, severe punishments for major crimes.
• It is often contrasted with crimes, which have divinely prescribed penalties.

Examples

• The judge considered the act of public mischief to be a tazir crime and sentenced the offender to community service.
• Legal scholars debated whether the new form of fraud should be classified as a tazir crime.
• Punishments for tazir crimes can include fines, imprisonment, counseling, or public reprimand.

Advanced Usage

• Discretionary Punishment: The core concept of is discretionary correction. The goal is often reformation and deterrence rather than retribution.
• Scope: The scope of what constitutes a can evolve, as it may include actions deemed harmful to public order, morality, or state interests that are not explicitly covered by laws.

Variants and Related Words

• Tazir (noun/adjective): The general term for this category of offenses and punishments. (e.g., "The offense is punishable under .")
• Hadd crime (noun): A major crime with a fixed, severe punishment prescribed by Islamic sacred texts.
• Ta'zir (noun): An alternate transliteration of the same Arabic root (تعزير), meaning "to discipline" or "to deter."

Synonyms

• Discretionary offense
• Corrective crime (context-specific)

Notes on Meaning

• The definition and application of can vary significantly between different Islamic nations and schools of legal thought (madhhabs).
• As noted in the reference, in some modern Islamic nations, the acts considered and their corresponding punishments are defined and codified in state legislation.

Noun

1. (Islam) minor crimes committed by Muslims; crimes that are not mentioned in the Koran so judges are free to punish the offender in any appropriate way
   • in some Islamic nations Tazir crimes are set by legislation