The Quest of a Curious Muslim — Page 76
WHY ARE ISLAMIC PUNISHMENTS SO STRICT? 76 Allah says in the Holy Quran, “These are the limits set by Allah, so approach them not. Thus, does Allah make His commandments clear to men so that they may become secure against evil” (2:188). In this verse, Allah exhorts us to stay away from the limits so that we can secure ourselves against evil. The concept of punishment in Islam is described with certainty. This verse highlights that the intention is not to be cruel or unjust. If that was the case, this verse would mention something about how punishment is deserved, but rather it focuses on the protection and security of the individual and society as a whole. In the Holy Quran, there are 4 major vices that carry a severe punishment: adultery, slandering, murder and theft. This is to ensure the protection of the family institution, property, honour and social order that is in place. That being said, Islamic punishments are applied in accordance with the circumstances where certain conditions must be met in order to constitute a punishment to that degree. For example, someone in a financially deprived country, with no other provisions, may resort to theft to satisfy their hunger. In this circumstance,