Defamation and Its Punishment in the Ayyubid Era (567–648 AH / 1171–1250 AD)

The penalty of defamation is one of the penalties stipulated by the Ayyubid Penal Code in Egypt and the Levant, sometimes in accordance with the spirit of Islamic law other times in complete contradiction to it. The state wanted to impose it on the guilty party and inform the subjects of his crime and be cautious in dealing with him. Protecting the society the Ayyubid state on the political, economic social levels; the punishment of defamation was able - in most cases - to achieve its goal, as it guaranteed the Ayyubid state protection from vices and sins such as adultery, drinking alcohol, theft, etc.It also fought, through defamation, all forms of fraud deception in its markets, in order to preserve the states economic foundations that guarantee its ability to confront opponents at home and enemies abroad. Defamation also fought destructive ideas, foremost among which were the ideas of esoteric groups with crooked thinking. And just as defamation succeeded in its mission on many occasions, it made mistakes regarding defaming the People of the Covenant in Egypt and the Levant and killing the great Sufi Suhrawardi(549-586 AH/1155-1190 AD) who was murdered.