Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mrs. Rawboned and I'm your RE teacher today.

We're going to be working on Muslim attitudes towards punishment.

In today's lesson, you will be able to explain Muslim and non-religious beliefs about punishment.

Keywords that we'll be using today are forgiveness, justice, and punishment.

Forgiveness is to stop feeling angry or resentful towards a person for wrongdoing, justice is what is right and fair, and punishment is the imposition of a penalty for wrongdoing.

We're going to look at two elements today.

We're going to be looking at punishment and at Muslim responses to punishment.

So let's get started looking at punishment.

There are various types of judicial punishment.

Fines, community service, prison, corporal punishment, and the death penalty are some examples.

A fine is a type of punishment used for minor offences, and the offender pays a set amount of money as a penalty.

Community service is a type of punishment used for less serious, non-violent crimes.

An offender completes unpaid work to benefit the community.

Prison is the type of punishment used for more serious crimes where an offender is kept in custody to protect the public and to restrict their freedom.

Corporal punishment is a type of punishment where physical pain is deliberately inflicted on the offender.

It's now banned in UK law, but it is still used in some countries.

And the death penalty is a punishment where the offender is legally executed for committing a very serious crime, such as murder, though it is banned in the UK.

Andeep, Sofia, Lucas, and Aisha are discussing punishment.

Andeep says, "One benefit of prison is that it protects society and can deter others from committing crime." Sofia says, "People say prison provides retribution but also offers help for reform." Lucas says, "Some people question whether community service delivers justice or protects the public." Aisha says, "It may not be retribution, but giving back through community service could help offenders reform." Most types of punishment relate to multiple aims. However, some are more strongly associated with some than others.

So if we look at the aim of deterrence, putting someone off crime.

A fine might put people off crime, as might prison, as you might expect corporal punishment to, and also the death penalty.

Thinking about the aim of achieving justice, you could argue that a fine does this because someone gives back.

Likewise prison, someone pays by giving up their freedom, and also the death penalty.

If punishment's aim is protection, then we might argue that prison is best for protecting people, or even the death penalty.

If we're looking at punishment as aiming to reform people, you could argue that community service might be best placed to do this by encouraging people to give back, and therefore perhaps to reflect on where they have gone wrong.

Prison as well is supposed to encourage offenders to reform, because prisoners must be provided with rehabilitation programmes.

If we think about the aim of retribution, we can argue that a fine is literally paying back for a crime committed, as is prison, by giving up your freedom.

You might argue that corporal punishment is too and the death penalty, because they make the offender suffer.

Now, of course, there is lots of disagreement about which aims matter for which type of punishment, but I hope you can see how some types of punishment might be more suited to specific aims than others.

For example, the death penalty is not going to help someone to reform, because of course, their life ends, whereas something like prison does have the potential to do that.

Sofia is asking Neil, who's a humanist and a defence barrister, about his views on prison and community service as a punishment.

Sofia says, "I've heard people say prison is a good deterrence, but community service is an easy way out." Neil says, "I've worked with serious offenders and have visited many prisons.

Although some offer excellent education and rehabilitation support, others suffer from overcrowding and provide limited opportunities for rehabilitation.

Some offenders reform, but many reoffend.

Community service requires offenders to take responsibility for their actions and so isn't necessarily an easy option.

It can lead to change, although not in every case." And of course, it's important to remember that community service is used for less serious crimes only.

Sofia is also asking Neil about his views on using violence as a punishment.

She says, "Some people say hurting someone physically is the best way to deter people from committing crime.

It means the offender suffers in the same way as their victim." Neil responds, "While some argue that corporal punishment could deter crime by making offenders suffer like their victims, there is little evidence to support this.

In the UK, it has been abolished because it does not support the aims of punishment according to the law, which include punishing offenders, reducing crime, rehabilitation, protection, and reparation to victims." So let's check your understanding.

Why might prison make reoffending more likely? Is it A, prisoners are given too much freedom and choice; B, people spend time around others with more criminal experience and with little chance to change; C, most prisoners are released too early without serving full sentences; or D, prisoners have access to luxuries like the internet and games? So take a moment, pause the video, jot down your answer, come back when you're ready to check.

So well done if you put B.

The concern is that spending time with others with a criminal background could make reoffending more likely.

Someone's view on punishment could be influenced by a number of factors: their religious beliefs, their personal moral worldview, any experiences they might have had, their ideas about human rights, ethical theories, and the values of their society and culture.

The YouGov survey in 2025 asked participants whether they thought the prison system in the UK was functioning well.

So people chose from well, don't know, and badly, and they were asked about punishing prisoners, protecting people, preparing prisoners for a crime-free life, and treating the causes of crime.

So let's have a closer look at the data.

Does it suggest that people think the prison system is working well? So well would be purple, don't know would be that light lilac colour, and badly is grey.

So have a good look, tell and talk to someone nearby if you can or you can talk to me, come back when you're ready to move on.

So most areas people say that the prison system in the UK is working badly.

The same survey asked participants whether they thought community service was effective, and answers range from very effective to not effective at all, with also don't know.

So what do most people think? Do they think community service is an effective punishment? Have a good look at the data.

Turn and talk to someone nearby if you can, or talk to me.

Come back when you're ready to move on.

Well done if you spotted that actually 64% said it was not effective by arguing that it's not very effective or not effective at all.

Alan is a humanist and he's talking about punishment.

Alan says, "I believe punishment should help people change.

I support the Howard League for Penal Reform because it promotes dignity and rehabilitation.

Everyone deserves respect, even when they've done wrong.

Harsh punishments go against Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: 'No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

' For less serious crimes, community service is often more effective than prison, as it allows people to make amends and stay connected to society." So we can see here that Alan as a humanist is basing his view on the ideas of dignity and human rights.

Warren is an atheist.

He's explaining his view on punishment.

Warren says, "Following utilitarianism, I believe punishment should reduce overall suffering and maximise happiness.

If harsh punishment deters crime, it can be justified as it reduces suffering.

However, humane treatment isn't a problem as long as it leads to better outcomes, such as lower reoffending or increased safety.

If harsh punishment achieves those outcomes more effectively than rehabilitation, then it is the better option.

The right response is always the one that maximises happiness." So we can see here that Warren is using utilitarianism to inform his thinking on punishment.

I'd like you to name one factor that might influence someone's view on punishment.

There are many, so we just need one.

Pause if you need to.

Come back when you are ready to check and see what you could have written.

You could have said any one of the following: human rights, ethical theories such as utilitarianism, personal experience, or religious beliefs, and there are many more that you could have mentioned as well.

Well done if you got one of those correct.

For Task A, I'd like you to complete the table on types of punishment by explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each.

So pause the video, take your time to think about the positives and negatives of prison, community service, and corporal punishment.

Pause the video.

Come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

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

Prison.

And advantages, it protects the public from dangerous people, it can deter crime, and some offer help to reform.

Disadvantages are it can lead to reoffending, it can be overcrowded, prisoners might mix with other criminals, and there can be limited rehabilitation opportunities.

Community service.

And advantages, helping offenders take responsibility, they're giving back to the community, and it can lead to real change.

But on the negatives, some see it as an easy option and not everyone thinks it keeps the public safe.

Corporal punishment.

Well, some think it's a strong deterrent because it causes pain like the victim felt.

On the other hand, it's seen as cruel, it's banned in the UK, and it doesn't appear to help people change or to stop future crime.

So well done if you've got across some of those positives or advantages and negatives or disadvantages.

Moving on to the second part of our lesson, we're going to be looking at Muslim responses to punishment.

Muslim attitudes to punishment 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 Sunnah, which is the Prophet's example, based on the Hadith; Shariah 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 guided by Islamic teachings.

Muslims may interpret these sources differently or place greater emphasis on some over others, but all agree the Qur'an is the supreme authority.

So let's have a closer look at how the Qur'an is a source of authority for Muslims when thinking about why human beings have a responsibility to carry out punishment.

Surah 4:135 says, "O you who believe, be steadfast in upholding justice, as witnesses to Allah, even if it's against yourselves, your parents, or your relatives." This teaches that Muslims must always be fair and stand up for justice, even when it's difficult or goes against people they care about.

Surah 35:49, "It is He who has made you successors upon the earth." This verse reminds Muslims that Allah has given them responsibility as successors, khalifah, 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 ayah teaches that Muslims must use Allah's guidance found in the Qur'an and Shariah when making judgements.

ignoring this is seen as wrong, showing that humans have a duty to carry out justice based on divine law.

So let's have a look in a little bit more depth about what the Qur'an has to say.

We're gonna focus on Surah 2:178.

"O you who believe, prescribed for you is legal retribution, qisas, for those murdered, the free for the free, the slave from the slave, and the female for the female." So when it comes to punishment, there is in Islam a clear law.

However, the verse goes on to say, "But if the killer is forgiven by the victim's family, then grant any reasonable demand and compensate them with kindness.

This is a concession and a mercy from your Lord." So as well as there being a clear law, we can see that the law can also be applied flexibly depending on the situation.

This is very similar to the approach taken by Christians if they use a theory called situation ethics, which involves thinking about each situation individually and acting on the basis of love.

In this case in Islam, when it comes to punishment we have a clear law, but that law itself can be applied flexibly.

Let's have a think about how the Qur'an influenced Muslim views on how punishment should be carried out.

Surah 5:45 says, "And we ordained for them therein: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution.

But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an expiation for him." Surah 5:45.

So here we can see that punishment must be proportional.

The victim can also forgive instead of punishment.

That means remitting retaliation out of charity or out of love.

If someone does remit retaliation, this is actually a way of wiping away the victim's sins.

It's an expiation for him.

So what is the missing word from Surah 5:45? "A life for life, an eye for an eye, a nose for nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for tooth, and for wounds is legal." So pause if you need to, jot down your answer, come back when you're ready to move on.

So well done if you got retribution.

The Qur'an describes some very specific types of punishment: fines, corporal punishment, and the death penalty.

Although it doesn't prescribe prison or community service as punishments, many modern Muslims support them as effective and reform-focused punishments.

Three types of punishment are prescribed in Shariah law.

We have hudud, fixed punishments, and these are mentioned in the Qur'an.

Their purpose is that justice is achieved through fixed retribution, and it deters crime and also protects the community.

Specific crimes that this applies to are theft, highway robbery, and false accusation.

The evidence for this type of crime has to be very strict, for example, two reliable witnesses or a confession for theft.

Examples of hudud punishments are amputation and 80 lashes.

Qisas, or equal retaliation, which we looked at earlier, mentioned both in the Qur'an and Hadith.

The purpose here is that justice is achieved through fair retribution, with the option of forgiveness and compensation.

It's applied for serious crimes, such as murder or serious injury.

The evidence here is two reliable witnesses or confession, and examples of punishments will be equal injury, the death penalty, or diyah, which is compensation or a fine, which is an option for the victim to choose.

Ta'zir are discretionary punishments.

This means that the judge decides on them.

In this case, justice is achieved through appropriate punishment chosen by a judge, with the idea of reforming the offender and also maintaining order.

The types of crimes that might come under this type of punishment are bribery, fraud, and minor offences.

The amount of evidence is flexible.

It really depends on what the judge decides.

And examples of the types of punishment would be fines, imprisonment, a warning, or community service.

Muslim and Muslim-majority countries apply Islamic punishment in different ways.

In Saudi Arabia, for example, hudud punishments are legally enforced with strict evidence conditions.

So that does mean they don't happen so often because the evidence demands are very high.

In Turkey, which is a Muslim country, Islamic punishments like hudud are not used anymore.

And in Malaysia, Muslims are subject to Shariah courts for some offences and civil courts for others.

So which punishment is not prescribed in the Qur'an? Have a look at the four options.

We have A, fines; B, prison; C, corporal punishment; and D, the death penalty.

Take a moment to jot down your answer.

Come back when you're ready to check.

Well done if you put prison.

It's not actually prescribed in the Qur'an, although it is mentioned and acknowledge as a type of punishment.

Jacob has been learning about Islam and punishment.

He has some questions for Ilham, who is a Sunni Muslim and works as a restorative justice practitioner.

Jacob says, "Some Shariah punishments like hand amputation or stoning sound quite harsh.

Do Muslims still believe these should be used today?" Ilham says, "These punishments are mentioned in the Qur'an and Hadith as part of hudud, but they come with strict conditions.

Most scholars agree they should only be applied by Islamic authorities in a just society.

Many Muslims see them as part of Allah's guidance, but understand that justice needs fairness, strong evidence, and the right context.

The difficulty of meeting the strict conditions for hudud punishments means they're rarely used in reality." Jacob continues, "Does that mean Muslims disagree with the UK justice system?" Ilham responds, "No, Muslims in countries like the UK follow the law of the land.

Islam teaches we should be good citizens and respect the laws of the country we live in, as long as we're not being forced to do something clearly against our religion.

Shariah is mainly a guide for personal conduct in those contexts, such as how to pray, fast, and treat others fairly.

Legal punishments like hudud would not apply outside a proper Islamic legal system." So how should Muslims living in the UK approach Shariah punishments like hudud? A, they should still try to carry them out privately in their own communities; B, they must follow Shariah punishments even if it goes against UK law; or C, they should respect UK law, as hudud punishments do not apply outside a proper Islamic legal system.

Take a moment, pause if you need to, come back when you're ready to check.

So well done if you put C.

They should respect the UK law, as hudud punishments do not apply outside an Islamic legal system.

Mustafa and Fatemeh are discussing the statement justice cannot be achieved without punishment.

Mustafa is arguing for the statement.

He says, "I don't agree with physical punishment, but I think teachings such as 'a life for life, an eye for an eye' show that fair punishment is part of justice.

Even if we choose forgiveness or a lesser penalty, there must still be consequences." Fatemeh is arguing against the statement.

She says, "Surah 5:45 also encourages the victim to forgive rather than retaliate.

Islam teaches that our intentions matter, so if someone regrets their actions, helping them reform supports justice better than punishment." Is this statement true or false? In Islam, justice can sometimes be achieved through forgiveness rather than punishment.

Take a moment to think about your answer and also think about why.

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

Well done if you put true, but why is this true? It's true because the Qur'an allows victims to forgive instead of seeking retribution, and says this is an act of mercy that's rewarded by Allah and it can still achieve justice.

For part one of your task, I'd like you to complete the sentences below so they answer the question.

Outline three Muslim and beliefs about punishment.

One Muslim belief is that qisas means the punishment should match.

Another Muslim belief is that the victim has the choice.

Another belief is that hudud punishments.

So take a moment, pause whilst you write your answer down, and then come back when you're ready to check.

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

One Muslim belief is that qisas means the punishment should match the harm done and be fair to both the offender and the victim.

Another Muslim belief is that the victim has a choice to demand equal punishment, accept compensation, or forgive the offender.

Another belief is that hudud punishments are fixed by Allah and can only be applied under very strict conditions with strong evidence.

So well done if you manage to get across what qisas is, that there is that choice to forgive and accept compensation, and that hudud punishments are fixed.

For part two of our task, Lucas is answering the question on punishment.

However, he's forgotten to refer to a source of wisdom or authority in his answer.

Explain two Muslim and beliefs about punishment.

In your answer, you must refer to a source of wisdom or authority.

So I'd like you to read what he's written, and for one of his paragraphs, name a source of authority, say what it teaches, and apply it to punishment.

So remember, you're completing only one row of the table.

So Lucas has talked about, "One Muslim belief about punishment is that it should be fair and match the crime.

The punishment should reflect the harm done and protect the rights of the victim without leading to further injustice." So this is about qisas and equal retaliation.

If you choose that one, you're going to name the source, say what it teaches, and apply to the point.

His second point is, "Another belief is that forgiveness can sometimes be better than punishment.

If the offender is truly sorry and willing to change, many Muslims believe that showing mercy is a more meaningful way to achieve justice." So if you choose this point, again, I'd like you to name the source, say what it teaches, and apply to his point.

So take your time, pause the video.

Remember you're just choosing one part of his answer to link in with a source of wisdom and authority.

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

You could have said for the first point that Surah 5:45, "A life for life, an eye for an eye," supports the idea of qisas, where justice is achieved through equal retaliation.

If you chose the second point, you can use the same Surah, "But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an expiation for him." This applies because it says that choosing mercy can still be a form of justice, especially if it helps reform the offender and restores peace.

So well done if you managed to link a source of authority into Muslim responses to punishment.

In today's lesson, we have learned there are different types of punishment, including prison, fines, community service, corporal punishment, and the death penalty; that non-religious views such as humanism and utilitarianism focus on punishment that protects society and helps offenders reform; that Muslims believe punishment should be fair and just, based on Allah's guidance, and should balance retribution with mercy and forgiveness; that Islamic law includes three types of punishment, hudud, fixed, qisas, equal retaliation, and ta'zir, discretionary; that in practise, ta'zir punishments are most common today, while hudud are rarely used due to strict conditions and a focus on reform in many Muslim countries.

Thank you very much for working with me today and for all of the efforts you put into this lesson.