Approaching the West — Page 173
A pproaching the West—173 according to Mosaic Law is punishable by death (Exod. 31:14-15). Showing contempt towards a priest or judge is a crime that asks for capital punishment. ‘And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that stands to minister there before the Lord the God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and you shall put away the evil from Israel. ’ (Deut. 17:12) In addition, the following crimes/sins attract death penalty in the Bible: For not being circumcised; not purifying oneself after touching a dead body; not observing the Day of Atonement; eating yeast at Passover time; eating offering while unclean; eating the fat of the offering; eating blood; for making sacred incense illegally and for coming near the sanctuary illegally. The list of sins deserving capital punishment is in fact longer than this! In the Holy Qur’ ā n, death penalty through due process of law is limited to only a few extremely serious crimes such as premeditated murder, or murder committed in the course of armed robbery, or treason against the State endangering lives of civilians or soldiers. In case of a murder, victim's suffering relatives have the option to spare the life of the convicted killer by accepting blood money as compensation. In cases of armed robbery, or treason, where no one is killed, lesser punishments are prescribed such as imprisonment or banishment (5:33-34). Next to killing an innocent person, is the prohibition of committing adultery. The commandment ‘Neither shalt thou