A Few Punishments Carried Out During ‘Uthmaan’s Caliphate

Injuries Caused In A Fight Between Two People

There may be an argument between some people, each of whom harms the other. If any such thing happens, then qisaas (retaliation) must take place, because this offence was deliberate, as it seems that each of them wanted to harm the other. ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan said: “If two people fight, then any injuries caused between them are subject to qisaas.” [Mawsoo’at Fiqh ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Affaan, p.99]

Harm Caused To Animals

If harm is caused to an animal, then its value must be paid. It was narrated that ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir said: “During the caliphate of ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Affaan, a man killed a hunting dog, the like of which was unknown among other dogs. Its value was estimated at eight hundred dirhams, so ‘Uthmaan made him pay that amount. And in another case he penalized a man twenty camels for the price of a dog that he had killed.” [Mawsoo’at Fiqh ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Affaan, p.100]

Harm Caused To An Aggressor

If a person transgresses against the property of another man, or he threatens his life or honour and he kills him during that incident of aggression, then he is not liable. Ibn Hazm narrated in al-Muhalla that a man saw another man with his wife and killed him; they referred the matter to ‘Uthmaan and he ruled that no blood money was to be paid. [Mawsoo’at Fiqh ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Affaan, p.102]