The Book of Legal Punishments

His statement, “legal punishments”: this is the plural of ḥadd, which linguistically means prevention or restraint. It is also used in numerous other senses. In the Book of Allah, ḥudūd may refer to prohibitions and to obligations. Regarding prohibitions, Allah Most High says, “So do not go near them” [al-Baqarah 2:187]; and regarding obligations, “So do not transgress them” [al-Baqarah 2:229]. After Allah mentioned what is forbidden to the fasting person, He said, “These are the limits set by Allah, so do not go near them.” And after He mentioned what is obligatory concerning divorced women, He said, “These are the limits set by Allah, so do not transgress them.”

A ḥadd may also refer to the boundary markers that separate two neighboring properties; thus, one says, “These are the boundaries of the land.”

It may likewise refer to that by which something is defined. This is the sense used by the logicians, who define a ḥadd as “a description that encompasses the thing described and distinguishes it from everything else.” Al-Saffārīnī said:

Definition, the foundation of every science,
Is an encompassing, clarifying description—so understand.

“An encompassing description” means one that encompasses the thing being described; “clarifying” means that it distinguishes it from other things.

This is the definition according to the logicians: it must be both inclusive and exclusive.

For example, if you were asked, “What is purification?” and replied, “Purification is using water upon the four bodily parts,” this would not encompass what is being defined, because ghusl and dry ablution would remain excluded. Thus, it is not a valid definition.

And if you said, “Purification is for a person to cleanse his garment, wash his face after sleeping, and the like,” this too would be incorrect, because it includes matters outside what is being defined. Therefore, a definition must be both inclusive and exclusive; if it is not inclusive and exclusive, it is not a definition.