Physical punishments (creation, prophet, sinners, Lord, muslims)

[fullyveiled muslimah]

I was reading the question that Paul came up with about the hadith in the hadith thread. It was a very interesting question, and one that concerns many non-muslims. I am the first to admit that these punishments are indeed harsh and severe.

Allah says about Himself in Quran:

98. Know that Allâh is Severe in punishment and that Allâh is Oft­Forgiving, Most Merciful.

6. They ask you to hasten the evil before the good, yet (many) exemplary punishments have indeed occurred before them. But verily, your Lord is full of Forgiveness for mankind inspite of their wrong-doing. And verily, your Lord is (also) Severe in punishment.


Allah combines His qualities of forgiveness and harshness. Allah is capable of loving His creations, and because of His justice He is swift and severe with His punishments.

I will continue this later when I have more time to concentrate on this answer.

[maro]

Allah says : [2:179]. And there is for you in legal retribution [saving of] life , O you [people] of understanding, that you may become righteous.

i want to say that we don't have to justify every order prescribed by the shariah , becoz we may not comprehend the whole wisdom behind it , but we certainlty believe that God's wisdom is above any other wisdom , and what may seem "severe punishment " to us , may be the only deterrant punishment that gurantees living in a safe peaceful society ,

and the best proof is investigating the societies that don't apply these punishments compared to those who apply it ,and the rate of crimes in both

Allah says :

[2:216]...... But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allāh Knows, while you know not.


another thing that really captured my attention is that when a muslim man went to the prophet (PBUH) asking him to purify him of the sin ( by applting the punishment) :
The prophet (Pbuh) asked him to go home and repent to Allah ,
after a while the man cam e again saying : i have sinned , purify me .
and the prohet asked him again to go home and repent to allah .
The third time : the man came said : i have sinned ,purify me.

the prophet (PBUH) finally asked him : purify you from what ??
The man said : i have committed adultery
the prophet (Pbuh) asked him : do you know what adultery is ? (perhaps you kissed or embraced her )
he said :no, i did what a man do with his wife

The prophet (PBUH) : asked his friends about his mentality , they said : he is sane
and then he asked them: to check him and see wether he is drunk or not , they said ; he is not drunk

and finally the prophet (pbuh) orderd them to take him and apply the punishment


** what i have learned from this story is that islam is not supposed to go inside homes and find sinners to punish ,

instead punishment is the last option , when the sinner leaves us no other option by announcing hi/her sin ,which will not only harm him , but will harm the whole society

[fullyveiled muslimah]

This is a very important point that bring up maro. I believe many people do not understand the circumstances under which such punishments can be meted out. It is not an arbitrary thing where you try to find fault, then inflict punishment for it. We can see many hadith where when the prophet (saw) was faced with the situation, he always deferred it. He always gave the benefit of the doubt that perhaps the person is confused, and they should simply make taubah. Since the punishments are so severe, the system of Islam has included a way to substantiate claims, because to inflict such things upon the wrong person would indeed be tragic.

My purpose was not to try to answer and defend every single law contained in shariah, but I feel that we must answer these questions. We must answer them truthfully, and clearly lest misunderstanding and misconceptions continue unchecked.