Lesson 7 – Muslim attitudes to capital punishment

To use quotes from the Qur’an, statistics and a real life example to understand Muslim attitudes to capital punishment.

Grade C All will be able to describe what the Qur’an says about capital punishment. Grade B Most will be able to explain why many Muslims are for capital punishment and some are against it. Grade A/A* Some will be able to express an opinion on Muslim views on capital punishment.

What conclusions can you draw from this bar chart? What do you notice about a lot of the countries that perform executions?

“Take not life – which God has made sacred – except for just cause” (Surah 17:33) Complete What is the meaning of the Muslim this quote quotes from the worksheet – Qur’an?

What do they In yourmean? opinion Arewould theybe what a JUST FOR or CAUSE? AGAINST?

“The shedding of blood of a Muslim is not lawful except for three reasons: a life for a life, a married person who commits adultery and one who turns aside from his religion and abandons the community” (HADITH – teaching of the prophet)

What does the Qur’an class as a JUST CAUSE for capital punishment?

The crimes that In countries carry the death vary where Shari’ah but may include Law is therape, law of murder, the land,acts theand homosexual apostasy (a Muslim death penalty can denying or working be used. against Islam)

The number of times its used and methods of execution vary from country to country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4 xvimacArI According to the Qur’an and Shari’ah Law is the execution of this man JUST? Do you think this is JUST?

Grade C All will be able to describe what the Qur’an says about capital punishment. Grade A/A* Some will be able to express an opinion on Muslim views on capital punishment.

MANY Muslims who support capital punishment do so because of nonreligious arguments, as do SOME Muslims that are against it. However there are arguments that are based on their religious beliefs.

Read the following arguments on your sheet carefully. Decide which are Muslim arguments are FOR capital punishment and which are AGAINST.

Test your memory… You have FOUR MINUTES to remember FOUR PE’s (including a QUOTE)

Go to PAGE 95 of your REVISION BOOKLET and COMPLETE QUESTION 1.

WITHOUT NOTES AND AGAINST THE CLOCK http://www.online-stopwatch.com/full-screenstopwatch/

Grade B Most will be able to explain why many Muslims are for capital punishment and some are against it.

Do you agree with What asking other the victim/victims options might family there tobe? agree to the punishment? Do Muslim countries always work Whattoissues these might rules? this raise?

According to According to the Qur’an the victim or the Qur’an the victims (in deathfamily penalty cases murder) canofonly be hasgiven to agree with after a the punishment fair trial and as given – so if they do lastthe resort not awant death after the penalty it cannot be consideration of given and another sentence will be ALL other given. options.

Grade A/A* Some will be able to express an opinion on Muslim views on capital punishment.

One thing I have learnt today is... One thing that has surprised me this lesson is... One thing I would like to know more about is...

• Some Muslims support cp because the Qur’an says it can be done with a just cause. An example of this could be adultery or murder. • A second reason is because Muhammad agreed with cp. An example of this is that he sentenced people to death for murder. • Muslims also think pubishments should be harsh because they are a deterrent. This is why executions are done in public to put people off. • Other Muslims appose cp because it is an option which can be considered but it doesn’t have to be. For example, the victims family can ask for cp not to be used.