During the ancient judicial system of the Muslim period, methods of punishment were influenced by Islamic law (Sharia) and varied based on the severity of the crime. The primary methods of punishment included:
Hadd (Fixed Punishments): These were severe, fixed punishments prescribed for specific offenses such as theft, adultery, and apostasy. Examples include amputation for theft and stoning for adultery.
Qisas (Retaliation): This principle allowed for equivalent retaliation, such as "an eye for an eye," primarily applied in cases of murder and physical injury.
Diyya (Blood Money): This involved financial compensation paid to the victim or their family, often used as an alternative to qisas.
Tazir (Discretionary Punishments): These were punishments left to the discretion of the judge for offenses not covered by hadd, ranging from fines to imprisonment or corporal punishment.
These methods aimed to maintain social order and reflect the moral and legal principles of the time.