The Rights of Prisoners according to Islamic Teachings

Description

The Rights of Prisoners according to Islamic Teachings presents a profound exploration of Islam’s holistic and balanced approach to justice, punishment, and the rights of prisoners. Rooted in divine guidance that addresses both worldly life and the hereafter, this book offers a powerful examination of the Islamic perspective on imprisonment—framed not merely as punitive, but as a last-resort measure within a comprehensive moral and legal system.

The author, a foremost authority on contemporary Islamic thought, sheds light on how Islam recognizes the deep social and psychological harm that imprisonment can inflict—not only on the individual but on the entire community. In doing so, the book underscores Islam’s emphasis on rehabilitation, justice, and mercy over retribution.

Through a careful review of Islamic legal texts, the book outlines the strict and nearly impossible criteria that must be met before any prescribed punishment—such as amputation for theft—may be carried out. More than forty conditions are identified, including the presence of a fully functioning Islamic system of governance encompassing all spheres of life—legal, political, economic, and social. In the absence of such a system, the author argues that Islamic law itself prohibits the execution of such punishments, advocating instead for alternative measures more suited to the contemporary context.

The first chapter delves into the very nature of freedom, contrasting it with the often destructive consequences of incarceration. This foundational discussion sets the tone for a humane, spiritually informed understanding of justice that speaks to both the individual and society.

Ideal for scholars, students of Islamic law, and anyone interested in justice reform, this book offers an essential framework for understanding the ethics of punishment in Islam.