To Punish a Child

Q: What is meant by punishment? Does it mean ta‘zir? What is the shar‘i limit in this regard? How about punishment and having authority over a child in punishing him / her by the authorized religious authority (hakim al-shar’), the child’s guardian, a teacher and a just believer?

A: Punishment and ta‘zir and what is the duty of the hakim al-shar‘ depends on the hakim’s view. The punishment by the father or the teacher authorized by the child’s father to do so is conditioned by not being in a degree that entails payment of blood money. Thus, if child’s skin becomes bruised, black, red, etc. blood money has to be paid.