Lesson video

Hello and welcome to this RE lesson today on Muslim attitudes towards justice.

My name's Mrs. Rawbone, and I'm looking forward to working with you today.

In today's lesson, you will be able to explain Islamic views on justice and compare different responses to them.

Keywords that we'll be using today are "justice," "mercy," and "restorative justice." Justice means what is right and fair.

Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown towards a person.

And restorative justice is an approach to justice that focuses on repairing the harm caused by wrongdoing through dialogue and understanding.

Our lesson today will take two parts.

We'll be looking at justice and at responses to justice.

So let's get started looking at justice.

Justice is what's right and fair.

We can use different approaches to explore the importance of the idea of justice.

We can use philosophy, exploring what it means and how it should work.

We can use theology, which explores justice through religious moral teachings.

And we can approach it through social sciences, exploring what justice means in society for politics, for individuals.

Andeep is not sure what justice means in society, and he's talking to Sofia, Lucas, and Aisha, asking for their views.

Andeep says, "I'm unsure what justice means in society.

Can you give me any examples?" Aisha says, "Justice means everyone is treated fairly and is given the same opportunities." Lucas says, "It also means supporting people who've been hurt or treated unfairly." And Sofia says, "Giving people the chance to learn from their mistakes and change is justice too." Someone's view on justice is going to be influenced by lots of different factors.

Their religious beliefs might make a difference to what they think.

So for Muslims, justice is a command from Allah.

Their personal experiences: perhaps they've experienced some injustice, and this might make them value justice more.

Their upbringing and culture will also influence them.

So the way we are brought up teaches us what to think about concepts like justice.

Society and politics.

So the law and social attitudes will also affect our personal views on justice.

In the UK, justice is protected in various ways through a combination of laws.

We should have equal treatment, so the law applies to everyone.

Everyone is entitled to a fair trial.

Accused individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

We are all entitled to legal representation, so accused people have access to a lawyer.

In the UK, we have an independent judiciary, which means that judges are free from outside influences.

We also use trial by jury in the UK.

So for more serious cases, a jury of 12 people give the verdict.

Laws should be clear, so they're public, everyone knows what they are, and they should be applied fairly.

Everyone has the right of appeal.

People can challenge decisions or sentences.

And victims' rights should be protected.

Victims themselves should be supported and given the opportunity to be heard.

So which two of the following are ways in which justice is protected in the UK? A, trial by jury.

B, public opinion.

C, judges are chosen by the victim.

Or D, clear laws.

Take a moment, remember you're looking for two.

Pause if you need to, and then come back when you're ready to check your answer.

So well done if you put trial by jury and clear laws.

Muslim attitudes to justice are informed by different sources of authority, including: the Qur'an, which is the direct word of Allah; the Hadith, which are the recorded words of the Prophet Muhammad; the Sunna, which is the Prophet's example based on the Hadith; Sharia law, which is Islamic law based on the Qur'an and Sunnah; Islamic scholars who interpret and apply the sources in real-life situations; personal conscience and reason, which is guided by Islamic teachings.

Muslims may interpret the sources differently, but they all agree that the Qur'an is the supreme authority.

Justice is central to Muslim responses to issues surrounding crime and punishment.

In Islam, there is accountability.

People have free will and are accountable for their actions.

Punishment, therefore, is fair and should be fair, but also, this should be balanced with mercy and forgiveness.

The Qur'an is a source of wisdom and authority for Muslims when thinking about justice.

Surah 35:49 says, "It is He who has made you successors upon the earth." This ayah reminds Muslims that Allah has given them responsibility as his successors, his khalifa, on earth.

This includes ruling fairly, making decisions, and upholding justice.

Surah 5:45: "And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, they are wrongdoers." This verse teaches that Muslims must use Allah's guidance found in the Qur'an and Sharia when making judgments.

Ignoring this is wrong.

Humans have a duty to carry out justice based on divine law.

"O you who believe! Stand up firmly for justice as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves or your parents or your kin, and whether it be against rich or poor, for Allah can best protect both.

Follow not the lusts of your hearts, lest you swerve, and if you distort justice or decline to do justice, verily, Allah is well acquainted with all that you do." A really important verse for understanding Muslim teachings on justice is Surah 4:135.

It starts out by saying that Muslims are commanded to always uphold justice: "Stand out firmly for justice." It moves on to say that justice must be applied fairly, regardless of how well you know someone, how interested you are in someone, or their status, so whether it's against yourself, your parents, or your kin.

Muslims are also warned not to let their emotions take over and affect their approach to justice.

So it says, "Follow not the lusts of your hearts lest ye swerve." And finally, any attempt to twist the truth or avoid justice is known to Allah.

Allah is well acquainted with all that you do.

Is this statement true or false? According to Surah 4:135, it is acceptable to let your emotions guide your decisions about justice.

Take a moment, think about the answer, but also think about why.

Pause if you need to.

Come back when you're ready to check your answer.

So well done if you put that it is false.

But why is it false? Well, Muslims are specifically warned in that verse not to follow the desires of the heart when judging.

The belief that life is a test is central to Muslim teachings about justice.

The Qur'an teaches that people have free will.

There is no compulsion in religion, and on the Day of Judgement , Allah will judge everyone based on their choices.

Justice means that individuals are accountable only for their actions.

The Qur'an repeats five times that no one "will bear the burden of another." As Al-'Adl, the Just, Allah rewards and punishes in a way that is perfectly fair.

Sofia and Andeep are discussing how teachings from the Qur'an support Muslim ideas about justice.

Sofia says, "Muslims believe that justice means being accountable for your actions.

The Qur'an teaches that each person's deeds are recorded, and on the Day of Judgement , they will be told, 'Read your book,' showing they will be judged fairly." Andeep says, "Muslims believe that justice requires personal responsibility, which is why the Qur'an repeats five times, 'No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another.

' This shows that each person is judged only for their own actions, not anyone else's." Alex is talking to Abdi.

He's a Muslim prison chaplain.

Alex says, "How does a belief in Allah's justice influence your work, Abdi?" Abdi responds, "My work is guided by the Islamic belief in justice.

I believe everyone should be treated fairly, no matter what they've done.

Justice includes giving people the chance to reflect, change, and take responsibility for their actions.

With the right support, they can turn towards doing good." So what is the missing word? The Qur'an teaches that life is a ________ in which people are judged on their actions.

Pause the video if you need to take a moment to think about the answer, and then come back when you're ready to check.

Excellent work if you remembered that life is a test.

For your task, I'd like you to explain two Muslim beliefs about justice.

To answer the question, you can use the guidance of point/develop.

So begin with "Muslims believe that justice.

." and then develop with "This means.

." And "Another Muslim belief about justice is.

." And again, "This means.

." Pause the video, take your time, come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

Let's have a look at what you could have said.

Muslims believe that justice is a duty given by Allah.

It teaches in the Qur'an that justice must be applied fairly, even if it is against yourself or people close to you.

Another Muslim belief about justice is that everyone is responsible for their own actions and will be judged by Allah, so justice means fairness and personal accountability.

So have a check of your work.

Well done if you've managed to talk about justice being about applying things fairly, that it is a duty, and that it also means people are accountable for their own actions.

Let's move on to the second part of our lesson: responses to justice.

Let's explore a response to justice.

Jacob Dunn was 19 years old when his life changed forever.

One night in 2011 in Nottingham, he got into a fight at a party and threw a single punch at a man named James Hodgkinson.

James, a 28-year-old paramedic, fell, hit his head on the pavement, and later died in hospital.

Jacob was arrested, charged with manslaughter, and sentenced to 14 months in prison.

He served just over a year.

At first, Jacob showed little understanding of what he had done.

He didn't attend court, barely read about the victim, and saw his time in prison as something to get through.

But everything shifted when he received a letter from James' parents.

They asked if he would be willing to take part in restorative justice.

Jacob agreed, and over time, he began to learn more about James, his life, his work, and the impact his death had on the family.

Eventually, Jacob met Joan, James' mother, face-to-face.

The meeting was emotional.

Joan asked him questions about that night, and Jacob answered honestly.

He apologised not just in words, but by showing that he had taken responsibility for his actions.

That meeting changed Jacob.

He realised the harm he had caused and decided to make something good out of what had happened.

He went back into education, earned a university degree, and began working in restorative justice and criminal reform.

Joan, who had once seen him as a person who took her son's life, now saw someone trying to change.

They even began working together to share their story publicly.

Jacob says he will never forget what he did, but meeting James' family gave him a reason to become a better person.

Joan says that although she lost her son, she gained some peace from knowing that Jacob truly understood the consequences of his actions and chose to live differently.

So that's a really strong example of restorative justice making a difference to the life of the victims and also to the life of the offender.

Ilham is explaining why she thinks restorative justice provides justice for the victims of crime.

She says, "Jacob Dunn's story shows that justice is not just about punishment; it is about recognising harm, taking responsibility, and giving people the chance to change.

In Islam, justice includes mercy.

The Quran teaches that those who repent and reform can be forgiven.

This is what inspired me to work for the probation service as a restorative justice practitioner." So we can see here that Ilham's decision to work as a restorative justice practitioner is influenced by her belief that justice includes mercy.

Neil is a humanist, and he's also a barrister.

He's explaining why he thinks restorative justice can support justice for the victims of crime.

Neil says, "Restorative justice can be effective when used alongside the formal legal process.

It allows victims to be heard and offenders to take responsibility, but it must never be used as a replacement for punishment.

When done properly, as it was in the Jacob Dunn case, it can support the legal aim of rehabilitation while giving victims a voice that the courtroom sometimes cannot fully provide." We can see here that Neil thinks restorative justice has great value, but it shouldn't be a replacement for punishment.

So it works alongside the justice system.

Warren is an atheist, and he's also a utilitarian.

He's explaining why he's not sure that restorative justice always provides justice for the victims of crime.

Warren says, "Justice for victims should be about reducing harm and making society safer.

If restorative justice helps victims feel recognised and prevents reoffending, like it did in the example of Jacob Dunn, then it can work.

But it depends on the offender's attitude.

It will not bring justice for every victim, especially if they feel the harm hasn't been properly addressed.

We can see here that Warren thinks the success of restorative justice very much depends on the offender's attitude, because if it does mean that the offender changes, it could produce less harm in the long run and prevent reoffending, which, on a utilitarian view, would be a good thing.

So which of the following views on restorative justice best expresses an Islamic perspective? A, it is only worthwhile if used alongside formal legal processes.

B, it is only worthwhile if the outcome is reducing suffering by preventing reoffending.

Or C, it is meaningful because justice includes mercy.

So take a moment, pause if you need to, come back when you're ready to check your answer.

So well done if you chose C.

In Islam, justice must also include mercy, and restorative justice does allow for mercy for the offender.

Justice for the victims of crime is about making offenders suffer.

Jun says, "If someone causes harm, they should be punished.

That's the only way to make it right for the victim." Where would you put Jun's view on that statement on this scale? Would he be on the disagree end or on the agree end? Take a moment, pause the video whilst you think about it.

You can always turn and talk to someone nearby or talk to me, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

Abdi, the Muslim prison chaplain, is responding.

He says, "Accountability matters, and victims deserve recognition.

But in Islam, justice is important for both victim and offender.

It means acknowledging harm and ensuring responsibility, but it also includes mercy.

If someone truly repents and changes, showing compassion reflects Allah's justice." So have a think about Abdi's view now.

How close is it to Jun's on that scale? Pause again.

Turn and have a discussion if you can with someone nearby or talk to me, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

Thinking again about Jun's view on that statement, Faye responds, "I agree that punishment can be the right response if it prevents further harm or helps the victim feel safe.

But I wouldn't say it's the only way to achieve justice.

For utilitarians, what matters is the outcome.

If helping an offender reform or showing mercy leads to more overall good, then that could be the more just option." So how close is Faye's view to Jun's on that scale? Have a think about where you would place it.

You might also want to compare it with where you placed Abdi's view.

Pause the video, come back when you're ready to move on.

Neil, who's a humanist, is also responding.

He says, "As a barrister, I believe we must hold people to account for their actions in a fair and balanced way.

I'm a humanist, and in my view, punishment should respect the rights and dignity of everyone.

Justice is not about revenge, it's about responding to crime in a reasoned and proportionate way." So where do you think Neil's view should fit on that scale in comparison to Jun's, and maybe also in comparison to Faye's and Abdi's? Pause the video, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can, or you can talk to me, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

So let's check your understanding.

Which of the following is an argument against the statement, "Justice for the victims of crime is about making offenders suffer?" Is it: A, offenders should suffer to match the harm they caused.

B, making offenders suffer helps victims feel safe and supported.

C, justice includes mercy and the chance for change if someone truly repents.

Or D, victims can only move on once they see the offender punished properly.

So take a moment, pause if you need to, come back when you're ready to check your answer.

Excellent work if you chose C.

The idea that justice includes mercy and the chance for someone to change their ways really suggests that the offender doesn't necessarily have to suffer in order for justice to be achieved.

For task B, I'd like you to consider the statement: "Justice for the victims of crime is about making offenders suffer." Develop the points in the table into arguments for and against the statement.

So, on the points for, we have: If someone causes harm, they deserve to be punished.

And punishment is to stop the offender or others from committing more harm.

You might want to pause the video now whilst you develop the points for.

And let's have a look at the points against: In Islam, justice also includes mercy and the chance for repentance.

Restorative justice offers another way to deliver justice that does not focus on making someone suffer.

So again, pause the video whilst you try and develop the points against.

Come back when you're ready to check your answers for the points for and against.

So let's have a look at what you could have said about the points for and against that statement.

Looking at the points for "If someone causes harm, they deserve to be punished," you could develop this by saying, making the offender suffer is a necessary consequence for their actions, giving the victim a sense that justice has been done, and restoring balance.

And for the second point for "Punishment is to stop the offender or others from committing more harm," you could have said, making the offender suffer serves a wider purpose that gives victims justice by helping keep others safe in the future.

So well done if you've managed to develop both of those points into more of an argument for the statement.

That's really good practise for GCSE evaluation questions.

Looking at the points against: "In Islam, justice also includes mercy and the chance for repentance." You could have developed this by saying the Quran teaches that if someone truly repents and reforms, they can be forgiven.

Justice can be achieved by helping them take responsibility and change.

And for the second point against, "Restorative justice offers another way to deliver justice that does not focus on making someone suffer," you could develop this with: justice can involve recognising harm, taking responsibility, and making amends.

This can support victims by repairing harm while also helping offenders reform.

So again, well done if you've managed to develop both of those points against into arguments against the statement.

In today's lesson, we've learned that justice means treating people fairly, giving everyone equal chances, and supporting those who have been wronged.

People's views on justice are shaped by religion, upbringing, experience, and culture.

For Muslims, justice is a duty from Allah and must be applied fairly, even when it's difficult.

The Quran teaches that everyone is responsible for their own actions and that mercy should be shown if someone repents.

And finally, restorative justice focuses on healing and responsibility and reflects Islamic values like mercy and reform.

Thank you very much for working so hard today on this really important idea in Islam: the concept of justice.