Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman A‘zami (رحمه الله)
Only a Muslim ruler (Sultan) or his appointed deputy is authorized to enforce Hudood punishments, so that public order is maintained, transgressions do not occur, and there is no fear of injustice.
In the absence of such authority, it is not permissible for individuals to implement Hudood. Rather, the one who has committed the sin should:
✔ Perform sincere repentance (tawbah)
✔ Engage in seeking forgiveness (istighfār)
✔ Increase in righteous deeds
When a person repents purely for the sake of Allah, then Allah will show mercy upon him and, out of His grace, forgive him.
Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says:
«وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا ﴿٦٨﴾ يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَانًا ﴿٦٩﴾ إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا»
[Al-Furqān: 68–70]
Also, Allah says:
«وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِّمَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَىٰ»
[Ṭāhā: 82]
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“Islam wipes out what came before it, and repentance wipes out whatever was before it.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 121/192]
He also said:
“One who repents from sin is like one who has no sin at all.”
[Sunan Ibn Mājah, Ḥadīth 4250]
[اللجنة الدائمة: 16815]
❖ Hudood and Crimes
❖ Enforcing Hudood Without the Presence of a Muslim Ruler
Only a Muslim ruler (Sultan) or his appointed deputy is authorized to enforce Hudood punishments, so that public order is maintained, transgressions do not occur, and there is no fear of injustice.
In the absence of such authority, it is not permissible for individuals to implement Hudood. Rather, the one who has committed the sin should:
✔ Perform sincere repentance (tawbah)
✔ Engage in seeking forgiveness (istighfār)
✔ Increase in righteous deeds
When a person repents purely for the sake of Allah, then Allah will show mercy upon him and, out of His grace, forgive him.
Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says:
«وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا ﴿٦٨﴾ يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَانًا ﴿٦٩﴾ إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا»
[Al-Furqān: 68–70]
Also, Allah says:
«وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِّمَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَىٰ»
[Ṭāhā: 82]
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“Islam wipes out what came before it, and repentance wipes out whatever was before it.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 121/192]
He also said:
“One who repents from sin is like one who has no sin at all.”
[Sunan Ibn Mājah, Ḥadīth 4250]
[اللجنة الدائمة: 16815]
