Aims of Punishment and Forgiveness
The four aims of punishment (protection, retribution, deterrence and reformation) and how Muslims hold justice together with mercy, forgiveness and restorative justice.
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Punishment and forgiveness ☪️
When someone commits a crime, what should happen next? Societies punish criminals, but they do so for different **aims**. Islam teaches that justice matters, but so does **mercy and forgiveness**. This module looks at the four aims of punishment, and at how Muslims balance punishing wrongdoing with the call to forgive.
The four aims of punishment 🔑
Punishment can have four main aims:
Match the aim 🔗
- Protection
- Retribution
- Deterrence
- Reformation
- Keeping society safe from the criminal
- The criminal deserves to pay back for the wrong
- Putting people off committing crime in future
- Changing the criminal so they do not reoffend
Which aim? 🎯
A judge gives a long sentence mainly to keep a dangerous criminal away from the public. Which aim of punishment is this?
- Protection
- Retribution
- Deterrence
- Reformation
A Muslim view of justice 💡
Islam teaches that **justice** is very important: the Qur'an (**Surah 4**) calls on believers to be fair and to stand up for justice, even where it is difficult. Many Muslims accept punishment for the four aims above, but they also stress that punishment should be **fair and proportionate**, and that the door to **repentance and reform** should stay open.
Aims of punishment ✅
Select the TWO that are recognised aims of punishment.
- Deterrence, to put people off crime
- Reformation, to change the criminal for the better
- Personal revenge taken by the victim
- Making the government wealthy
Justice and forgiveness ⚖️
Islam holds justice and forgiveness together. Both matter.
The aims in words 🧱
Punishment has four main aims. _____ keeps society safe. _____ means the criminal deserves to pay back. _____ tries to put people off future crime. _____ tries to change the criminal for the better. Alongside justice, Islam stresses mercy and _____.
Islam and forgiveness 📋
What does Islam teach about forgiveness?
- Muslims are encouraged to forgive those who are truly sorry
- Muslims must never forgive any crime
- Victims are forced to forgive at once
- Only leaders are allowed to forgive
Restorative justice 🪜
An interactive activity.
Weigh the aims 🧭
An interactive activity.
Justice and mercy ✍️
An interactive activity.