03-27-2004, 10:45 PM
John
I think you need to read this again, think before you reply, use your mind not your emotions:
Quote:<b>The question most asked today regarding the implementation of this Divine Law is, why in public? And why so severe?</div></blockquote>
</b>The society that Allah and His Messenger (saws) want for the believers, requires a particular amount of law, order, honor, sanctity of person and property, peace, and security. The person who, in his full senses, violates these basic principles and rights of humanity, and takes it upon himself to illegally and dishonestly take away from other what does not rightfully belong to him; must know and fear that society will exact a severe, stern, and debasing punishment from him. And the reason it is done in public is so that anyone else, who might be even thinking of violating these sacred rights of humanity; must know and fear the consequences he will have to pay for his crime!
The average person is normally a good, law abiding citizen; who works hard to provide for himself and his family. But some unscrupulous people, who don’t want to live honestly, or earn their living lawfully, want to take away the right of the good citizen by dishonest means! And the fallacy of this modern-ignorant-educated social system is that the society makes laws to help and encourage these unscrupulous, dishonest, and corrupt criminals, at the expense of the honor, peace and security of the decent law-abiding citizen! Only if the punishment for the crimes against humanity are strict and severe, and only if the criminals know the severity of the punishment society will exact from them, and only if they fear the punishment; will the law-abiding, decent, and hard-working citizens be able to live a life of honor, peace, and security!
If we look around the world that we live in today; the normal, decent, honest citizen lives his life in fear for his honor, property, and life! And the criminals have available every tool at their disposal, knowing all too well, what are the consequences if they are caught for their crime. Every government and every law-maker tries to use his wisdom and his capacity to make laws that will help the law-abiding citizens to live a better life; and deter the criminals from committing crimes! Has it worked? Has the crime rate gone down in the world? Has theft reduced? Has fornication and adultery reduced?
When a law-maker of this world decrees that a thief should spend six months in jail, did we ever ask him why six months? Or why three months, or why one year? The law-maker of this world himself is of limited wisdom and knowledge, and will keep on trying his trial-and-error method, until he gets it right! And he will never get it right, till he reaches the decision or judgment that Allah and His Messenger have applied for the crime!
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We never challenge the laws or regulations made by man; but some of us always challenge each and every law and regulation made by the All Wise, All Knowing, Lord of the worlds!
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Cutting the hand might sound brutel but the crime of theft is a big enough crime to be punished by cutting off the hand (not the arm, just the hand), also when the hand is cut it is done in non-painful way, they use a very sharp tool, and it can be done by a doctor like the brother said (<span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:100%;">Q-2A: Or if it was removed in a hospital setting by a qualified medical doctor be acceptable? </span>
There is no harm, and in fact it would be advisable, that a qualified medical doctor be available to cut the hand of the convicted thief; in the hospital, or in a public square, or in a stadium, etc.; but it must be done in public, where a section of the believers witness the punishment inflicted upon the thief. )
<b>The point is to stop the person from doing the crime ever again not to torture him. Now if we just put him in prison for few years that is not a strong enough punishment to make him not do it again.</b> especially when he has things that people out of prison have, he is just not free to go where he wants.
John There are many things in Life we don't like but it is good for us, and there are many things in life we like but it is bad for us, let me give you a very simple example:
food .... we like soda and it is bad for us (bad for the gums, teeth ..etc) and it has no benefits, also chips, too much is unhealthy and people like it.
Broccoli and eggplant many might not care for it but it is good for us and it has many benefits.
Also exercising it is very good for us and we need it for good health but many are too lazy and feel it is a hasle.
This life is a test, and Allah does not punish a slave for nothing and without a warning, Allah told us not to steal and take what doesn't belong to us, and He told us what the punishment is for doing that, so if someone insists on doing if after knowing the ruling on it and its punishment, well, he asked for it.
Maybe you never had anything that belongs to you stolen or have someone you love killed, but many others did and it is very painful and it ruined other peoples lives and made them live in fear.
Maybe you don't care to have a peaceful safe society but me and many many others do, I don't want to live fearing that my house be robbed or my child getting kidnaped or one of my loved ones getting killed or me getting raped (Allah forbid)....etc.
Have the man made laws solved the issue of crime?
No... and the societies that go by man made laws are a proof of that.
They put a theif or a killer in prison for 10 years or less! , then when he is out he does it again ! and that happens.
Question to you John:
How would you feel if a killer who was put in prison for few years then let out killed someone you loved after he came out of prison?
I ask Allah to guide you to the right path.