Muslim attitudes towards crime
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe types and causes of crime, explain the role of intention, and explain Muslim teachings about crime and its causes.
Key learning points
- Different types of crime have various causes, including social conditions, personal choices and mental health.
- Islamic responses are guided by scripture, legal tradition and moral reasoning with justice and intention being central.
- How responsible someone is for a crime depends on their reasons and awareness at the time.
- Muslims are taught to follow the law, but standing up against unfair treatment is also an important value.
- Some arguments focus on the wider effects of hate crimes, while others stress the seriousness of taking a life.
Keywords
Cause - something that makes something else happen or explains why it happens
Crime - an illegal act which can be punished
Intention - a plan or aim in a person’s mind about what they want to do
Common misconception
Islam teaches that all crimes are equally wrong.
Islam teaches that crimes should be judged fairly, based on harm, intention and context. Serious crimes like murder are treated more severely, while causes like poverty or illness may affect how a crime is viewed.
Teacher tip
Use case studies to show how intention changes the type of crime and how it is judged.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Justice means fairness, treatment, and helping people who have been harmed.
Q2.People’s views on justice are shaped by religion, personal experience, upbringing, and .
Q3.How should justice be applied in Islam?
Q4.The Qur’an teaches justice, mercy, and the chance to .
Q5.Why might some Muslims support restorative justice?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Match each keyword to its meaning:
something that makes something else happen or explains why it happens
an illegal act which can be punished
a plan or aim in a person’s mind about what they want to do
Q2.Which of the following is a possible cause of crime?
Q3.Muslims are taught to follow the law, but also to speak out against treatment.
Q4.Which of the following is part of the Islamic legal tradition?
Q5.Islam teaches that crimes should be judged based on harm, intention, and .
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Muslim attitudes towards crime, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Muslim attitudes towards crime, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Crime and punishment unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.