Criminal law in Islam

Abstract

After justifying my rationale for this study, I have briefly propounded anthropological and philosophical perspectives for the institution and development of law in human society. Thereafter I have focused on the criminal law of Islām. With regards to invariable penalties for certain offences and variable penalties for others I have also stressed the oft-neglected issue of rehabilitation. Besides, I have also appraised criminal procedure and then concluded by refuting objections raised against Islāmic criminal law by critics. In sum, the following comes to light: • The Islāmic laws encompass all facets of criminality. • Islām believes in nipping the evil in the bud: treating the wound and then applying the plaster. If it comes to the worst that the wound becomes incurable, then for the betterment of the patient and others, it may as well be amputated. Its aim is not to castigate the criminals; rather to reprimand them and bring reform in the society. • How crucial this topic is and how urgently it should be addressed. • How temperate the Islāmic laws are in weeding out crimes from the societies. • Crime is a crime, whether it is perpetrated by an individual or state.