Justice and the Causes of Crime
Justice sits at the heart of Islam. Explore what Muslims believe about justice, why people commit crime, and how those beliefs become an argument about how a fair society should respond.
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Justice, and why crime happens ⚖️
**Justice** sits at the heart of Islam: Allah is just, and Muslims believe they must be just too. But every society also faces **crime**, and Muslims ask both why people commit it and how a fair society should respond. This module covers **Muslim attitudes to justice** and the **causes of crime**. On this paper a belief is not just recited, it is used as **evidence in an argument**, so aim to link every teaching to what a Muslim would actually do.
The words you need 🔑
Five ideas run through justice and crime:
What does justice mean in Islam? 🎯
For a Muslim, what does it mean to act with justice?
- Treating people fairly and giving each person what they are due
- Taking personal revenge on anyone who wrongs you
- Favouring the rich and powerful in a dispute
- Ignoring wrongdoing so as to keep the peace
Standing firm for justice 🧭
One of the strongest Muslim teachings on justice is that a believer must **stand firmly for what is right, even if it goes against themselves, their parents or their relatives** (a teaching drawn from **Surah 4:135**). This means justice cannot be bent for family, wealth or status. It matters especially for **victims** of crime, who deserve to see wrongs put right. Muslims believe upholding justice is a duty to Allah.
Match each cause of crime to an example 🔗
- Poverty
- Addiction
- Greed
- Upbringing
- Stealing food because there is no money to buy it
- Committing theft to fund a drug habit
- A wealthy person committing fraud to gain even more
- Growing up where crime was normal and was copied
Why do people commit crime? ✅
Select the TWO factors Muslims and others recognise as causes of crime.
- Poverty and a lack of opportunity
- Addiction to drugs, alcohol or gambling
- Praying regularly to Allah
- Giving money to charity as a Muslim duty
Where does justice come from? 🏛️
Religious and non-religious people often agree that justice matters, but disagree about why.
A Muslim response 🤝
A Humanist argues that justice comes from human rights, not from God. How might a Muslim respond?
- Justice ultimately comes from Allah, though Muslims often agree with protecting human rights
- Human rights should be completely rejected as un-Islamic
- There is no difference at all between the two views
- Non-religious people cannot care about justice
Tackling the causes of crime 🌱
Islam teaches that Allah commands justice, kindness and good conduct, and forbids injustice (a teaching from **Surah 16:90-92**). Some Muslim organisations put this into action by tackling the causes of crime.
Complete the picture 🧱
In Islam, justice, or _____, means treating people fairly. A Muslim must stand firm for justice even against their own _____. An act that breaks Allah's law is a _____. Many crimes have causes such as poverty and _____, a dependence on drugs or alcohol. The worldwide Muslim community that should uphold justice is the _____.
Spot the Muslim response 🖍️
An interactive activity.
Apply the teaching 🔀
An interactive activity.
Build the argument ✍️
An interactive activity.