Is 'hudud' a singular or plural noun?

It is a plural noun (from Arabic ḥudūd, plural of ḥadd). There is no commonly used singular form in English.

What crimes typically fall under hudud?

Traditional hudud crimes include theft, adultery, false accusation of adultery, drinking alcohol, apostasy, and highway robbery.

Do all Muslim-majority countries implement hudud?

No, very few countries implement classical hudud punishments in full. Application varies widely by country and interpretation.

What is the difference between hudud and ta'zir?

Hudud are fixed, mandatory punishments prescribed in Islamic sources. Ta'zir are discretionary punishments determined by a judge for offences not covered by hudud.

Is “hudud” formal?

Hudud is usually formal/technical in register.

How do you pronounce “hudud”?

Hudud: in British English it is pronounced /huːˈduːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /huːˈduːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

hudud: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Rare

UK/huːˈduːd/US/huːˈduːd/

Formal/Technical

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Quick answer

What does “hudud” mean?

Punishments prescribed by Islamic law for specific serious crimes.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

Punishments prescribed by Islamic law for specific serious crimes.

The fixed, mandatory penalties in classical Islamic jurisprudence for offenses considered crimes against God.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more frequent in UK media due to larger Muslim population and coverage of Muslim-majority Commonwealth nations.

Connotations

Technical/legal term; often carries political and religious weight in discussions about Islam and law.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in general English; appears primarily in specialized academic, religious, or international news contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “hudud” in a Sentence

The government implemented hudud.Hudud are prescribed for specific crimes.They debated the application of hudud.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

impose hududimplement hududIslamic hududsharia hududhudud punishments

medium

debate hududoppose hududhudud lawsunder hududstrict hudud

weak

discuss hududhudud systemapply hududhudud offencesmodern hudud

Examples

Examples of “hudud” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

The hudud penalties are clearly defined.
There was a hudud provision in the draft law.

American English

Hudud punishments remain controversial.
The hudud system was discussed at length.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually never used.

Academic

Used in Islamic studies, comparative law, religious studies, and political science discussing Islamic legal systems.

Everyday

Extremely rare; may appear in news about Muslim-majority countries.

Technical

Core term in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) for the category of fixed punishments for crimes like theft, adultery, and apostasy.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “hudud”

Strong

Quranic punishmentsdivinely ordained penalties

Neutral

Islamic penaltiesfixed punishmentsprescribed penalties

Weak

sharia punishmentsreligious penalties

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “hudud”

discretionary punishmentsta'zirsecular penaltiesrehabilitative justice

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “hudud”

Using as singular ('a hudud') – it's plural.
Confusing with 'hadd' (singular Arabic form not used in English).
Misspelling as 'hudood' or 'huddud'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: It is a plural noun (from Arabic ḥudūd, plural of ḥadd). There is no commonly used singular form in English.
: Traditional hudud crimes include theft, adultery, false accusation of adultery, drinking alcohol, apostasy, and highway robbery.
: No, very few countries implement classical hudud punishments in full. Application varies widely by country and interpretation.
: Hudud are fixed, mandatory punishments prescribed in Islamic sources. Ta'zir are discretionary punishments determined by a judge for offences not covered by hudud.
: Punishments prescribed by Islamic law for specific serious crimes.
: Hudud is usually formal/technical in register.
: Hudud: in British English it is pronounced /huːˈduːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /huːˈduːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“The hudud are the boundaries set by God.”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'HUngry for jUDicial rules' → 'hudud' are the strict judicial rules in Islamic law.

Conceptual Metaphor

LAW IS A BOUNDARY (hudud literally means 'boundaries' in Arabic)

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

In classical Islamic law, refer to the fixed punishments for specific serious offences.

Multiple Choice

In which context is the term 'hudud' primarily used?