Year 11 - Religious education
Muslim teachings about good, evil and suffering
Crime and punishment
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
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, including Muslim ones, on good, evil and suffering.
Key Notes
- Muslims believe people are born pure (fitrah) and are guided by Islam but judged by their choices and intentions.
- For an action to be good, the intention (niyyah) must be sincere, not done for attention or personal benefit.
- Suffering is sometimes seen as a test with spiritual value, though some suffering results from the misuse of free will.
- Many non-religious perspectives see suffering as a problem to solve, not something that serves a higher purpose.
- Opinions differ on whether suffering leads to good, with some seeing benefits, while others focus on the harm it causes.
Vocabulary To Learn
- evil: that which is considered extremely immoral, wicked and wrong
- good: that which is considered right according to moral standards
- suffering: an effect of evil; undergoing pain and hardship
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Islam teaches that people are born sinful or evil.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Muslims believe people are born pure (fitrah) and are guided by Islam but judged by their choices and intentions. For an action to be good, the intention (niyyah) must be sincere, not done for attention or personal benefit.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'evil'
that which is considered extremely immoral, wicked and wrong.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Islam teaches that people are born sinful or evil. Correction: Islam teaches that all people are born pure (in a state of fitrah), and have the ability to choose between right and wrong.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Islam and the aims of punishment Study Guide
- Islam and the treatment of criminals Study Guide
- Muslim attitudes towards crime Study Guide
- Muslim attitudes towards justice Study Guide
- Muslim attitudes towards punishment Study Guide
- Muslim attitudes towards the death penalty Study Guide
- Muslim teachings about forgiveness: Study Guide
- The Muslim Chaplains Association and Mosaic Study Guide
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