A monetary fine under a rule of the community council

Question

In the community council, its head and other persons laid down this rule: whoever commits any offence, his punishment shall be a fine in rupees. So is it permissible to impose this fine or not?

Answer

A monetary fine is impermissible. To make people observe the rulings of the Shari‘a, some other punishment should be given — the severing of relations and the like. [ar]وَفَرْكِ الْأُذُنِ، وَبِالْكَلَامِ الْعَنِيفِ، وَبِنَظَرِ الْقَاضِي لَهُ بِوَجْهٍ عَبُوسٍ، وَشَتْمٍ غَيْرِ الْقَذْفِ، لَا بِأَخْذِ مَالٍ فِي الْمَذْهَبِ[/ar] “…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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