Islam offers the better solution to crime and punishment.
In the case of murder, for example, Islam
- offers the victim’s relatives the opportunity to secure retribution in the death penalty and remove any grievance that may led them to commit acts of revenge;
- offers the victim’s relatives the opportunity to forgive the criminal in return for compensation or to waive compensation altogether if they so wish;
- deters potential murderers from committing a crime;
- eliminates the societal costs of prisons;
- exacts punishment in the same manner as the murder so there is no injustice to either the murderer or the victim’s relatives;
- offers the innocent the opportunity to be compensated for in the Day of Judgement by Allah [swt], the All-Knowing, for being wrongfully tortured and killed.
Islam places the needs of society above the needs of the individual. If there is a conflict between the rights of the individual and the rights of society, the rights of society take precedence. If the rights of the individual have been unfairly violated, then the compensation is paid in the Day of Judgement by Allah [swt] Himself, the All-Knowing.
Therefore, prison is not the best place for criminals.
[1] Surah Al-Mulk Chapter 67 Verse 14
[2] Surah Al-Ma’idah Chapter 5 Verses 27-32
[3] Surah Al-An’am Chapter 6 Verse 151
[4] Surah An-Nisa’ Chapter 4 Verse 93
[5] Surah An-Nisa’ Chapter 4 Verses 29-30
[6] Surah Al-Furqan Chapter 25 Verses 68-69
[7] Surah Al-Ma’idah Chapter 5 Verse 45
[8] Surah Al-Baqarah Chapter 2 Verse 194
[9] Surah An-Nahl Chapter 16 Verse 126
[10] Surah Al-Baqarah Chapter 2 Verse 178-179
[11] Surah Al-Ma’idah Chapter 5 Verse 32
[12] Surah Al-Ma’idah Chapter 5 Verse 49
[13] Surah Sad Chapter 38 Verses 21-26
[14] Surah At-Tawkir Chapter 81 Verses 8-9
[15] Surah Az-Zalzalah Chapter 99 Verses 1-8
[16] Surah Al-Anbiyaa’ Chapter 21 Verse 47
[17] Surah Al-An’aam Chapter 6 Verse 160
[18] Surah Al-Hijr Chapter 15 Verses 45-47