Crime and punishment

Question 1

why is justice important for Muslims?

Answer 1

The Qur’an describes Allah as just and says that he wants people to treat each other fairly and to establish justice. There are many Hadith where Muhammad is shown aacting justly

Question 2

what is the hadith?

Answer 2

sayings of Muhammad.

Question 3

Non-religious attitudes to Justice

Answer 3

Justice is important to them as society has laws which: make sure everyone behaves fairly to each other and that the innocent are protected from violence, upheld by police and courts so all members of society obey the law.

Question 4

why is Justice important for the Victim?

Answer 4

victims can suffer physically, financially and emotionally. it is important for them that the perpetrator pays for their crime.

Question 5

Muslim believe that justice is important for the victim because:

Answer 5

Islam teaches that justice should always be given as the victim is totally innocent, justice can only be given when the victim receives justice.

Question 6

SOW for Justice

Answer 6

surah 16 - “god commands justice and the doing of good from Muslims”

surah 49 - “God loves those who are just.”

Question 7

What are the causes of Crime?

Answer 7

Poverty - far more crime in poor areas than in rich areas.

Upbringing and family background - have major effects on the livelihood of people.

Alcohol and drugs

Low self-esteem

Question 8

How do Islam try to deal with poverty?

Answer 8

they ban interest in money lending and gambling - leads to debt and then crime.

encourage Muslims to share their wealth- Zakah helps poor Muslims in the UK.

Question 8

How do Islam help parents to fulfill their duties?

Answer 8

Muslim are judged by God on how they brought up their children - they teach children the difference between right and wrong and make sure they go to Madrasah.

Many Mosques provide help for families

Question 9

What is Madrasah?

Answer 9

religious school

Question 10

How does Islam deal with Alcohol and Drugs

Answer 10

Alcohol and drugs are haram - they are banned by the Qur’an and hadith.

Question 11

What are Khalifahs?

Answer 11

they are Allah’s stewards or vicegerents and they have been given the task of looking after the world in the way God wants.

Question 12

How do Islam prevent criminals re-offending through?

Answer 12

The Muslim Chaplains’ Association which supports Muslim prison chaplains in their work of providing care in prison - prevent re-offending.

Mosaic provides support to prisoners in the six months prior to their release

Question 13

SOW for Crime

Answer 13

surah 16 - god command justice and the doing of good and generosity

“Muslims must have nothing to do with intoxicants”

Question 14

What are Fard actions:

Answer 14

actions that must be performed for a person to be regarded as good. They include obeying Shari’ah laws and observing the five pillars. Doing these actions results in being rewarded, not doing these will result in punishment.

Question 15

What are Mandub actions:

Answer 15

actions that Muslims will be rewarder for carrying out, but will not be punished for failing to carry out.

Question 16

What does haram mean

Answer 16

that which is forbidden - will be punished by God at the final judgement.

Question 17

Non-religious attitudes to evil and suffering

Answer 17

they believe that evil and exist because of the nature of the world eg earthquakes - they are part of how the world is.

the evil brought by humans(moral evil ) brought by humans being greedy selfish and bigoted.

they believe evil is a reason God does not exist.

Question 18

Why do Muslims believe people suffer?

Answer 18

God is omnipotent and omnibenevolent so humans are not able to understand what God does. Evil and suffering test people’s belief on Islam and a true Muslim will remain faithful to God.

> Muslims who help suffering will be rewarded on the Last Day

Question 19

SOW for Muslims attitudes to good, evil and suffering

Answer 19

surah 76 - Muslims should accept what God sends with patience and constancy

Question 20

Outline three Muslim teaching about punishment

Answer 20

Muslims should not commit crimes because a crime is a sin against God - those who commit crimes will be punished

Islam teaches that criminal should be punished and Qur’an has specific punishments eg whipping , amputation. - these are Hadd punishments

Compensation can replace hadd punishments if both parties agree.

Question 21

SOW for attitudes to punishment.

Answer 21

surah 5 - punishment for theft is cutting off the thiefs hand as an example form God.

surah 42 - punishment for an injury should be a similar injury but compensation can replace this if the victim agrees

Question 22

outline 3 things punishment aims to do

Answer 22

protects the innocent from law breakers
deters citizens from committing crimes.
penalize criminals for their actions and give the victim a sense of retribution

Question 23

definition for Retribution

Answer 23

the theory that criminals should be punished for what they have done

Question 24

definition for deterrance

Answer 24

punishments should be harsh to discourage people from committing crime

Question 25

definition for Reform

Answer 25

criminals should be taught to not commit crimes - change them into law-abiding citizens

Question 26

Why are hadd punishments used?

Answer 26

the fear of these punishments will deter most people from committing crimes they also make criminals pay for crime and never do them again

Question 27

SOW for forgiveness

Answer 27

surah 4 - god doth wish to make it clear to you … he wish to you be mercy

Question 28

Outline 2 beliefs Muslims beliefs about forgiveness

Answer 28

god is compassionate and merciful to sinners
If God can forgive us we must forgive others sins against others.

Question 29

Explain 2 ways offenders are forgiven by the community?

Answer 29

the UK government tries to rehabilitate offenders through the Rehabilitation of offenders act.

some business owners are helping to bring offenders back into the community by offering them employment and training.

lots of charities work to help ex-offenders to become law-abiding members of society.

Question 30

Explain why restorative justice is important?

Answer 30

gives victims the chance to explain to the offender how they have been affected by the crime. offenders have the chance to understand the impact of their crime and take action to repair the harm they caused.

Muslims are in favor of restorative justice as it is the only way of bring peace and reconciliation between the criminal and the victim - Qur’an encourages that.

Question 31

SOW for forgiveness

Answer 31

surah 39 - Muslims should never despair of God’s mercy because God is the Oft-forgiving , most merciful’

in the hadith Muhammad said - Muslims should be forgiving and give justice to the person who was unfair and unjust to them.

Question 32

outline 3 human rights under the Universal declaration of human rights.

Answer 32

freedom of expression
fair trial
legal representation at their trial
humane treatment in custody

Question 33

For human rights when treating criminals in Islam

Answer 33

most Muslims are opposed to the use of torture as prophet Muhammad issued several hadiths condemning its use. most Muslims have signed the Universal declaration of human rights. which prevents them using torture.

Question 34

Against human rights when treating criminals in Islam

Answer 34

some Muslims believe it is permitted to torture criminals in certain circumstance and would use situation ethics or utilitarianism would justify using torture in certain situations.

Question 35

SOW for the treatment of criminals

Answer 35

Muhammad said in the hadith that God will torture those who torture others.

surah 5 - the punishment for those who act against Islam is execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off hands.

Question 36

Outline three methods of the capital punishment:

Answer 36

lethal injection, the electric chair, hanging

Question 37

what offences does Islam allow capital punishment for:

Answer 37

murder, adultery and apostasy.

Question 38

why do most Muslims agree with capital punishment?

Answer 38

it is a punishment set down by God in the Qur’an and Muslims believe the Qur’an is the word of God.

Muhammad made several statements agreeing with with capital punishment and sentenced people to death when he was ruler of Madinah.

Question 39

Why do some Muslims disagree with capital punishment?

Answer 39

they feel that capital punishment is not compulsory in the Qur’an.
The Sharia’s says that the family of the victim can except blood money instead of the death penalty from the criminal.
there is the possibility of the wrong person being convicted

Question 40

Humanists are against capital punishment because of ethical theories and their belief that life is sacred:

Answer 40

sometimes the wrong person is convicted - innocent lives are taken away from them.
countries with the death penalty do not have lower crime rates - capital punishment does not deter people.
no one has the right to take away human life.

Question 41

some Atheists agree with capital punishment because:

Answer 41

the prospect of losing your life could act as a deterrent.
the value of human life can only be demonstrated by inflicting the worst penalty on those who take life - death penalty
it is justice for the victim - an eye for an eye. etc

Question 42

SOW for the death penalty

Answer 42

surah 5 - those who act against Islam the punishment is execution.

Is better to save a guilty life than to take away and innocent one