Does discretionary punishment expiate sins?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The student: If he is given a discretionary punishment...?
The Shaykh : If the Imam imposes a discretionary punishment, it is only because the fixed punishment expiates [sins], so the discretionary punishment also expiates them, provided it is fully carried out. The reality of the matter is that the Imam, regarding discretionary punishment, may leave it entirely even when it is due, or he may carry it out while being lenient, or he may carry it out perfectly, meaning he punishes this transgressor with a complete punishment, applying the Shari'ah fixed punishment. We know that the Shari'ah fixed punishment is a complete punishment because it is from Allah. But the discretionary punishment may be less than the equivalent of the sin or crime, making it deficient; it may be equal, making it complete; or the person may not be taken to account at all because the ruler is unjust and has a kinship with this person... Yes.
The Shaykh : If the Imam imposes a discretionary punishment, it is only because the fixed punishment expiates [sins], so the discretionary punishment also expiates them, provided it is fully carried out. The reality of the matter is that the Imam, regarding discretionary punishment, may leave it entirely even when it is due, or he may carry it out while being lenient, or he may carry it out perfectly, meaning he punishes this transgressor with a complete punishment, applying the Shari'ah fixed punishment. We know that the Shari'ah fixed punishment is a complete punishment because it is from Allah. But the discretionary punishment may be less than the equivalent of the sin or crime, making it deficient; it may be equal, making it complete; or the person may not be taken to account at all because the ruler is unjust and has a kinship with this person... Yes.