Eight days ago, a group of terrorists opened fire on worshipers in a mosque in north Sinai, Egypt; they killed 309 and wounded over 150. Some families lost all men in this attack, including their elders and even male children under 5 years of age. I didn’t feel like writing about this issue, or any other issue for a while; but today, after a long weird day, I decided to conclude discussing the penal code in Islam, and I found this incident extremely relevant to what I’m going to explain.

Allah says in the Qur’an: “Those who wage wars against Allah and His Messenger, and spread disorder in the land shall either be put to death or crucified or have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or be banished from the land. They shall be disgraced in this world, and then severely punished in the Hereafter, except for those who repent before you gain power over them: for you must know that Allah is forgiving and merciful.” [The Qur’an (5:33-34)].

If an adult sane person, or a group of persons decided to act together, and committed an armed organized crime, like breaking and entering, banditry, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, assassination, terrorism, high treason, etc., they have committed a grave crime against Our creator’s laws, the Islamic teachings, and even against all humanity. Their punishment is issued by the judge based on the size and consequences of their crime. The judge is to issue a verdict that they should receive one of the following 4 sentences:

1. Banished or imprisoned.
2. Cutting off their right hands and left legs or vice versa.
3. Death.
4. Death and Crucifixion

If the criminal frightened the people and practiced bullying against them, he is imprisoned. If the criminal used force in stealing the possessions of others, he is sentenced to have his right hand and left leg cut off, or vice versa. If the criminal killed his victim in the process, he receives a death sentence. If the criminal kidnapped a female and raped her, he receives a death sentence. If he breaks into her house and rapes her, he receives a death sentence. If he kills her after raping her and his crime was so terrible and disturbing for the community, the judge should order the criminal’s corpse to be crucified after his death as a warning for other criminals.

Likewise, all crimes that waste lives and disturb the communities like high treason, organized assassinations and terrorism, they all receive that same sentence. Some crimes like arms trafficking and drug dealing are considered highly destructive for the communities. Their punishment, as decided by the jurists in many Islamic countries is death.

Finally, I would like to say that killing killers, rapists, drug dealers, traitors, arms traffickers, and assassins, means life for those who are innocent. Those who claim that the death sentence should be cancelled, are actually pulling the trigger with their own hands and killing those who want to live in peace. Before following into their footsteps, think carefully and decide: which camp is it that you want to join.

This post, along with the previous four ones in this series, were a made easy overview on the penal code in Islam. In my opinion, deterring laws ward off crimes. They form a protective shield for the community against corruption, and save innocent lives. Ever since Muslims forsook applying these laws, the most horrible crimes—that were never present among Muslim communities before—started to appear. I call upon those who listen: protecting this earth and its inhabitants against corruption is the sole objective of our creation. It’s beyond any sophistry and useless endoscopy that deterring laws must be promulgated and applied without any procrastination in order to achieve such objective.

May Allah guide us all to the truth, Amen.

For complete understanding of the penal code in Islam, read my previous posts:
Islamic Penal Code Part I   Islamic Penal Code Part II
Islamic Penal Code Part III   Islamic Penal Code Part IV

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Written By: Ehab Shawky