Thus, if we found a man eating at a gathering such as this one—a gathering of learning and respect—this would be contrary to proper decorum, so we would flog him, but not with more than ten lashes. Or if a man said to his son, “Sit down and serve coffee to the visitors,” but the son went off to play and neglected the guests, then his father may discipline him, without exceeding ten lashes.

Or a man may instruct his young son, who is eleven years old, to pray, but the son rebels. He may then give him ten lashes; and if that proves ineffective, he may increase them, and if it remains ineffective, he may increase them further. This is because he has neglected an obligation, which is one of Allah’s limits. This view is the stronger one; it was the position preferred by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and a group of leading verifying scholars, and it is the view that must be acted upon.

It will come, if Allah Most High wills, that disciplinary punishment is not confined to this particular form of discipline—that is, it is not limited to flogging. Even according to the madhhab, it may take various forms, such as rebuke, shunning, confiscation of property, destruction of property, imprisonment, and other measures. For the purpose of disciplinary punishment is correction and discipline; this also indicates that it is permissible to exceed ten lashes.

Question: Does shaving the beard entail disciplinary punishment?

Answer: It does entail disciplinary punishment, because it is the neglect of an obligation. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Let your beards grow.” (1) This disciplinary punishment is repeated: whenever he shaves