WikiIslam:Sandbox/Why Islam has only "Physical" punishments & not Imprisonment?
Have you ever pondered that there are only "Barbaric Physical" punishments in Islam & no imprisonment?
- Theft (Sariqa, السرقة): Punishment is cutting hands
- Highway robbery (Qat' al-Tariq, قطع الطريق): Punishment is amputation of hands or feet
- Illegal sexual intercourse (Zina', الزنا): Flogging
- False accusation of zina (Qadhf, القذف)[3]: Flogging
- Drinking alcohol (Shurb al-Khamr, شرب الخمر): Flogging
- Apostasy (Irtidād or Ridda, ارتداد أو ردّه): Flogging
Why only physical punishments?
Answer:
Prophet Muhammad came in the Arab Society, which was very backward and there were no prisons there. And Prophet Muhammad followed this culture in case of "Hudood"(حدود) i.e. fixed punishments.
Afterwards Muslims got victories and Islamic Caliphate became very rich and they also got the prisons, but these "barbaric physical punishments" didn't change in the name of "Sharia" i.e. Islamic Law till today.
Muslims claim that only Allah has the right to make Sharia (Islamic Laws), and only Allah has the right to change them. If any human being or Islamic State try to amend any Sharia Laws, then they will become apostate themselves. They believe, since the Sharia brought by Muhammad was the last Sharia, therefore it's rules are not going to be changed till Judgement Day.
This is the reason we still see all these barbaric Physical Punishments still being carried out today after 14 centuries of demise of Prophet Muhammad.
Same physical punishment for bigger or smaller crime
If you have stolen millions of dollars from Bank, then your punishment is cutting of hands. But if one has stolen 1/4th of Dinar thing (like a pair of boats), then again his hands are going to be cut off. So Islam is not distinguishing between bigger or smaller crime.
While our modern era is much better where it differentiates between bigger and smaller crimes and award punishments accordingly.
Also remember that Islam does not allows the State to forgive the punishment of thief. This means once you have been caught stealing, then no one can save you from the punishment and you have absolutely no chance to repent. This makes it super dangerous Barbaric religion.