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Year 11 - Religious education

Islam and the treatment of criminals

Crime and punishment

Unit Summary

In this unit pupils will study ideas of crime and how different Muslims may view crime is caused. From that, they will examine different ideas of punishing crime and treating criminals looking at examples of Muslim work in prisons and attitudes to reconciliation.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain different views on the treatment of criminals including Islamic ones.

Key Notes

  • Islam teaches that offenders must be treated fairly and never tortured.
  • Shariah law uses judges, but Muslims may accept jury trials if they are fair.
  • The Qur'an and Hadith teach compassion, even towards prisoners.
  • Islamic human rights agree with the UDHR on treating offenders with dignity.
  • Muslims put this into practice, for example by visiting prisoners or opposing torture.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • humane: showing kindness, care and sympathy towards others, respecting their dignity and aiming to reduce suffering
  • justice: ensuring fairness by responding to crimes in a way that holds the offender properly accountable
  • torture: when someone is deliberately caused extreme pain or suffering, either to punish them, scare them or force them to do or say something

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • All Muslim countries follow Islamic law exactly as it is in the Qur'an.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

Islam teaches that offenders must be treated fairly and never tortured. Shariah law uses judges, but Muslims may accept jury trials if they are fair.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'humane'

showing kindness, care and sympathy towards others, respecting their dignity and aiming to reduce suffering.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: All Muslim countries follow Islamic law exactly as it is in the Qur'an. Correction: In reality, some Muslim-majority countries mix Islamic principles with national laws, and not all follow the Qur'an's teachings fully, especially on justice and human rights.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 11 Religious education guide library.