Abu Muhammad [Ibn Hazm] (may Allah have mercy on him) said: People disagree regarding someone who has sex with an animal. One party said: His punishment is that of adultery; he is to be stoned if married or whipped if not married. Another party said: He is to be killed with no question. Another party said: He is to be given the lesser of the two punishments, married or unmarried. Another party said: A discretionary punishment [ta’zir] may be prescribed if the animal belongs to him. Another party said: He is to be reprimanded if the animal belongs to him, and it is to be sacrificed and not eaten; if the animal belongs to someone else, it is not sacrificed. Another party said: The imam's own scholarly opinion [ijtihad] can be applied regarding punishment to the extent it may be. And another party said: There is only ta'zir, no obligatory legal punishment.