Ihana (humiliation, as a wrong against persons and faith and as a penalty)

الإهانة

Ihana is lexically the act of abasing, from the verb hana, to be humbled, and it is one of the forms of mockery and contempt. ¹ For the jurists it arises in two ways: as a wrong that invites a penalty, which is unbelief when it touches faith or the law, such as bowing to an idol or throwing a copy of the Qur'an into filth, and sin when it touches people unjustly, such as insult or beating; and as a penalty fixed by the law, such as the humiliation of protected non-Muslims in paying the poll tax, or a light penalty for one who insults another, in proportion to the rank of the person. ¹² It arises chiefly in the chapters on apostasy, slander and discretionary punishment. ²

Depth

At a glance

Era: The Prophetic Era
Region: Global / Diaspora
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Ethics and character

Definition

Ihana is lexically the act of abasing, from hana, to be humbled; it is one of the forms of mockery and contempt. ¹

The two senses

As a wrong, it invites a penalty. When it touches faith or the law, such as bowing to an idol, throwing a copy of the Qur'an into filth, or insulting the prophets and angels, it is unbelief. When it touches people unjustly, such as insult or beating, it is sin. ¹
As a fixed penalty: such as the humiliation of protected non-Muslims in paying the poll tax, or a light penalty for one who insults another, in proportion to the rank of the one insulted. ¹²

Exceptions

An act that looks like humiliation may be excused by intention or necessity, such as spitting on a board to erase the writing on it, or throwing copies of the Qur'an from a ship in danger of sinking to save lives. ¹

Where it is treated

Chiefly under apostasy, slander and discretionary punishment. ²

People and things also explored

Ada' al-dayn (paying a debt: its ruling, the manner of payment, insolvency and the debts of the dead)· Ada' al-shahada (performing testimony: the duty on request, the excused witness, and the wording)· Manners of the Qur'an bearer· Biting and the liability for injury it causes (add)· Adha (harm of a slight kind: removing harmful things and the duty not to harm)· Justice and grace (adl wal-fadl)· Pardon (afw) in purity, worship, contracts and penalties· Covenant (ahd) and the duty to keep it; oath by the covenant of God

Sources

al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3595
al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3596

Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Ihana (humiliation, as a wrong against persons and faith and as a penalty)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/ihana/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

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Wing

Ideas

Beliefs, concepts, sciences and schools, explained in plain words. Related

Ada' al-dayn (paying a debt: its ruling, the manner of payment, insolvency and the debts of the dead)

Paying a debt in the form owed is obligatory by consensus. A debt due now must be paid on demand when the debtor can pay; a deferred debt is not due before its term. Payment is made in like items, with value owed where there is no like; a better payment is allowed when unconditioned. Remission, gift, assignment, set-off and settlement take the place of payment. A solvent debtor who refuses is compelled, imprisoned and his apparent property sold; the majority hold that a bankrupt is put under interdiction and his property divided among creditors, against Abu Hanifa. The insolvent is given respite, and his debt may be paid from zakat if he borrowed for himself in a lawful matter. A dead person's debt attaches to his estate and takes precedence over bequests and inheritance.