Shubha (Arabic: ôèÃÂé doubt, obscurity, or mis-grounded conceit) is an Islamic term referring to the duty of leaders/judges to consider any doubt (shubha) before implementing a verdict in a criminal case of any degree. Muhammad said not to implement serious punishment in cases of uncertainty, with the phrase: "çïñäÃÂç çÃÂÃÂïÃÂï èçÃÂôèÃÂçê" ("seek doubts to avoid punishment").
A derived term with similar meaning is mentioned in the Qur'an at 3:7. <blockquote> It is He Who has sent down to you the Book. In it are Verses that are entirely clear, they are the foundations of the Book; and others not entirely clear. So as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the truth) they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, seeking Al-Fitnah (polytheism and trials, etc.), and seeking for its hidden meanings, but none knows its hidden meanings save Allâh. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord." And none receive admonition except men of understanding. </blockquote>
Muhammad is reported to have commented on the above verse:
ëÃÂÃÂÃÂ¥ÃÂðÃÂç ñÃÂãÃÂÃÂÃÂêàçÃÂÃÂÃÂðÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂêÃÂÃÂèÃÂùÃÂÃÂÃÂààÃÂç êÃÂôÃÂçèÃÂÃÂààÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂãÃÂÃÂÃÂæÃÂÃÂàçÃÂÃÂÃÂðÃÂÃÂÃÂàóÃÂàÃÂÃÂàçÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂçÃÂÃÂðÃÂñÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂàû
(When you see those who follow what is not so clear of the Qur'an, then they are those whom God described, so beware of them.)