What is the expected procedure and punishment from the judge against a seventy-year-old person who described another as an "innovator" (mubtadiʿ)? Is it a discretionary (taʿzīr) punishment or a fixed (ḥadd) punishment, and does he have the right to appeal the ruling?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Accusing someone of bid'ah (innovation in religion) is akin to accusing a Muslim of fasaq (transgression/immorality). It is considered an insult that warrants a discretionary punishment (ta'zir) if it is not applicable, because it is among the expressions that contradict the belief of Ahl al- wal-Jama'ah (the People of the Sunnah and the Community). The estimation of the discretionary punishment is subject to the (independent reasoning) of the ruler or judge, and the aggrieved party has the right to object to the ruling and appeal it to second-degree courts.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/157164
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 157164
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy