Harsh Punishments

In chapter 8 of the Bible, we read the following passage regarding the stoning of the adulterous.

¹ but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ² At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³ The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

The genius in this response is that Jesus is not directly condemning the act of stoning the adulterous but creating a situation where the punishment can never be enforced, thus effectively eliminating the practice. This is a tactic that is used repeatedly throughout the Quran.

Polygamy

A simple example of this in the Quran is polygamy. In the following verse, it states that the requirement for polygamy is that one needs to be fair, and if one even fears they will not be fair, then one must be content with only one wife.

[4:3] If you deem it best for the orphans, you may marry their mothers—you may marry two, three, or four. If you fear lest you become unfair, then you shall be content with only one, or with what you already have. Additionally, you are thus more likely to avoid financial hardship.

 وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تُقْسِطُوا فِي الْيَتَامَىٰ فَانْكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا فَوَاحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَلَّا تَعُولُوا

fa-in	فَإِنْ	But if
khif’tum	خِفْتُمْ	you [all] feared
allā	أَلَّا	that not
taʿdilū	تَعْدِلُوا	you [all] act justly
fawāḥidatan	فَوَاحِدَةً	then (marry) one
aw	أَوْ	or
mā	مَا	what*
malakat	مَلَكَتْ	[it] possessed / took [as a wife]*
aymānukum	أَيْمَانُكُمْ	your right hands / oaths (*existing wives).

Then in the following verse, it states that one can never be equitable in dealing with more than one wife.

[4:129] You can never be equitable in dealing with more than one wife, no matter how hard you try. Therefore, do not be so biased as to leave one of them hanging (neither enjoying marriage, nor left to marry someone else). If you correct this situation and maintain righteousness, GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

 وَلَنْ تَسْتَطِيعُوا أَنْ تَعْدِلُوا بَيْنَ النِّسَاءِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتُمْ فَلَا تَمِيلُوا كُلَّ الْمَيْلِ فَتَذَرُوهَا كَالْمُعَلَّقَةِ وَإِنْ تُصْلِحُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا

walan	وَلَنْ	And never
tastaṭīʿū	تَسْتَطِيعُوا	you [all] will be able
an	أَنْ	that
taʿdilū	تَعْدِلُوا	you [all] deal justly / equitably
bayna	بَيْنَ	between
l-nisāi	النِّسَاءِ	[the] women
walaw	وَلَوْ	even if
ḥaraṣtum	حَرَصْتُمْ	you [all] desired (to).

Concubines

The concept of concubines is another practice that the Quran eliminates.

[23:6] Only with their spouses, or those who are rightfully theirs, do they have sexual relations; they are not to be blamed.

 إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ

[70:29] They keep their chastity.
[70:30] (They have relations) only with their spouses, or what is legally theirs. Indeed, they are not to be blamed.

 وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ
 إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ

Regardless that the expression “malakat aymanuhum” ( مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ ) can be understood as common law marriages existing marriages, or ones bound by an oath, the reality is that this expression in the Quran is also used for female slaves.

Firstly, the Quran presents a system that promotes formal marriage and phases out slavery. Such that if a slave wants to get married, the owner of the slave must not only grant them their freedom to marry but also compensate them once their intention is confirmed to be true.

[24:32] You shall encourage those of you who are single to get married. They may marry the righteous among your male and female servants, if they are poor. GOD will enrich them from His grace. GOD is Bounteous, Knower.

 وَأَنْكِحُوا الْأَيَامَىٰ مِنْكُمْ وَالصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَائِكُمْ إِنْ يَكُونُوا فُقَرَاءَ يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

[24:33] Those who cannot afford to get married shall maintain morality until GOD provides for them from His grace. Those among your servants ( malakat aymanukum / مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ) who wish to be freed in order to marry, you shall grant them their wish, once you realize that they are honest. And give them from GOD’s money that He has bestowed upon you. You shall not force your full-grown young women into “l-bighāi” ( الْبِغَاءِ ), seeking the materials of this world, if they wish to be chaste. If anyone forces them, then GOD, seeing that they are forced, is Forgiver, Merciful.

(٣٣) وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا حَتَّىٰ يُغْنِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَالَّذِينَ يَبْتَغُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ فَكَاتِبُوهُمْ إِنْ عَلِمْتُمْ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا وَآتُوهُمْ مِنْ مَالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آتَاكُمْ وَلَا تُكْرِهُوا فَتَيَاتِكُمْ عَلَى الْبِغَاءِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَ تَحَصُّنًا لِتَبْتَغُوا عَرَضَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَنْ يُكْرِهْهُنَّ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ مِنْ بَعْدِ إِكْرَاهِهِنَّ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ

Additionally, 24:33 states that these women have rights and are not to be forced into “l-bighāi” ( الْبِغَاءِ ). This word is translated in different ways, but in short means oppression through sexual acts in the context. This encompasses prostitution, forced marriages, or any other kind of unchaste act.

walā	وَلَا	And (do) not
tuk’rihū	تُكْرِهُوا	[you all] compel / force
fatayātikum	فَتَيَاتِكُمْ	your full grown young women
ʿalā	عَلَى	to
l-bighāi	الْبِغَاءِ	[the] oppression / forced marriage / prostitution,
in	إِنْ	if
aradna	أَرَدْنَ	they intend / desire
taḥaṣṣunan	تَحَصُّنًا	to be inaccessible / chaste
litabtaghū	لِتَبْتَغُوا	that you [all] may seek
ʿaraḍa	عَرَضَ	temporary goods (of)
l-ḥayati	الْحَيَاةِ	the life (of)
l-dun’yā	الدُّنْيَا	the world.
waman	وَمَنْ	And whoever
yuk’rihhunna	يُكْرِهْهُنَّ	he compels / forces them,
fa-inna	فَإِنَّ	then indeed,
l-laha	اللَّهَ	God (is)
min	مِنْ	from
baʿdi	بَعْدِ	after
ik’rāhihinna	إِكْرَاهِهِنَّ	their compulsion
ghafūrun	غَفُورٌ	Forgiving,
raḥīmun	رَحِيمٌ	Merciful.

Non-Aggression Principle

Through and through the Quran also promotes the non-aggression principle, by which aggression is only permitted against the aggressor in self-defense.

[2:190] You may fight in the cause of GOD against those who attack you, but do not aggress. GOD does not love the aggressors.

 وَقَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ

[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.

 لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

[4:90] Exempted are those who join people with whom you have signed a peace treaty, and those who come to you wishing not to fight you, nor fight their relatives. Had GOD willed, He could have permitted them to fight against you. Therefore, if they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you, and offer you peace, then GOD gives you no excuse to fight them.
[4:91] You will find others who wish to make peace with you, and also with their people. However, as soon as war erupts, they fight against you. Unless these people leave you alone, offer you peace, and stop fighting you, you may fight them when you encounter them. Against these, we give you a clear authorization.

 إِلَّا الَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ مِيثَاقٌ أَوْ جَاءُوكُمْ حَصِرَتْ صُدُورُهُمْ أَنْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ أَوْ يُقَاتِلُوا قَوْمَهُمْ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَسَلَّطَهُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ فَلَقَاتَلُوكُمْ فَإِنِ اعْتَزَلُوكُمْ فَلَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ وَأَلْقَوْا إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَمَ فَمَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سَبِيلًا

 سَتَجِدُونَ آخَرِينَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَأْمَنُوكُمْ وَيَأْمَنُوا قَوْمَهُمْ كُلَّ مَا رُدُّوا إِلَى الْفِتْنَةِ أُرْكِسُوا فِيهَا فَإِنْ لَمْ يَعْتَزِلُوكُمْ وَيُلْقُوا إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَمَ وَيَكُفُّوا أَيْدِيَهُمْ فَخُذُوهُمْ وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأُولَٰئِكُمْ جَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانًا مُبِينًا

Quran Encourages Forgiveness

But the Quran takes it one step further to state that while one is allowed to conduct tit-for-tat, it encourages forgiveness and patience for those who want to be more righteous.

[16:126] And if you punish, you shall inflict an equivalent punishment. But if you resort to patience (instead of revenge), it would be better for the patient ones.
[16:127] You shall resort to patience—and your patience is attainable only with GOD’s help. Do not grieve over them, and do not be annoyed by their schemes.
[16:128] GOD is with those who lead a righteous life, and those who are charitable.

وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُمْ بِهِ وَلَئِنْ صَبَرْتُمْ لَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لِلصَّابِرِينَ
وَاصْبِرْ وَمَا صَبْرُكَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا تَكُ فِي ضَيْقٍ مِمَّا يَمْكُرُونَ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ مُحْسِنُونَ

[5:45] And we decreed for them in it that: the life for the life, the eye for the eye, the nose for the nose, the ear for the ear, the tooth for the tooth, and an equivalent injury for any injury. If one forfeits what is due to him as a charity, it will atone for his sins. Those who do not rule in accordance with GOD’s revelations are the unjust.

 وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْعَيْنَ بِالْعَيْنِ وَالْأَنْفَ بِالْأَنْفِ وَالْأُذُنَ بِالْأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ فَمَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَهُ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

Spousal Abuse

This is also applicable when it comes to spousal abuse. The Quran creates conditions to eliminate the practice by first putting obstacles in the way before the action can be carried out, but ultimately by establishing the non-aggression principle as stated above.

[4:34] The men are made responsible for the women, and GOD has endowed them with certain qualities, and made them the bread earners. The righteous women will cheerfully accept this arrangement, since it is GOD’s commandment, and honor their husbands during their absence. If you experience rebellion from the women, you shall first talk to them, then (you may use negative incentives like) deserting them in bed, then you may (as a last alternative) beat them. If they obey you, you are not permitted to transgress against them. GOD is Most High, Supreme.

 الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنْفَقُوا مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ فَالصَّالِحَاتُ قَانِتَاتٌ حَافِظَاتٌ لِلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللَّهُ وَالّٰتِیۡۤ تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَاهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّا كَبِيرًا

wa-allātī	وَالّٰتِیۡۤ	And those (from) whom
takhāfūna	تَخَافُونَ	you [all] fear
nushūzahunna	نُشُوزَهُنَّ	their ill-conduct / rebellion
faʿiẓūhunna	فَعِظُوهُنَّ	then advise them [you all],
wa-uh’jurūhunna	وَاهْجُرُوهُنَّ	and (then) forsake / desert / leave them [you all]
fī	فِي	in
l-maḍājiʿi	الْمَضَاجِعِ	the beds,
wa-iḍ’ribūhunna	وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ	and (then) strike them [you all].
fa-in	فَإِنْ	Then if
aṭaʿnakum	أَطَعْنَكُمْ	they obeyed you [all]
falā	فَلَا	then (do) not
tabghū	تَبْغُوا	you [all] seek
ʿalayhinna	عَلَيْهِنَّ	against them
sabīlan	سَبِيلًا	a way / cause / reason (excuse).

Adultery

The Quran puts a requirement that four witnesses are required to enforce the punishment for adultery.

[4:15] Those who commit adultery ( l-fāḥishata / الْفَاحِشَةَ ) among your women, you must have four witnesses against them, from among you. If they do bear witness, then you shall keep such women in their homes until they die, or until GOD creates an exit for them.

 وَالّٰتِیۡ يَأْتِينَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مِنْ نِسَائِكُمْ فَاسْتَشْهِدُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةً مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ شَهِدُوا فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ فِي الْبُيُوتِ حَتَّىٰ يَتَوَفَّاهُنَّ الْمَوْتُ أَوْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُنَّ سَبِيلًا

The Quran specifies that for someone to bear witness, they must be present and see it with their own eyes.

[21:61] They said, “Bring him before the eyes of all the people, that they may bear witness.“

(٦١) قَالُوا فَأْتُوا بِهِ عَلَىٰ أَعْيُنِ النَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْهَدُونَ

This sets a very high bar that is virtually unattainable under most circumstances limiting the punishment mostly to pornographic content. Secondly, the Quran enforces punishment of eighty lashes for individuals who accuse chaste married women of adultery and cannot produce four witnesses for their claim. This enforces that even if adultery takes place, it is not made into a public affair unless the act is widely known within the community/society.

[24:4] Those who accuse married chaste women ( l-muḥ’ṣanāti / الْمُحْصَنَاتِ ) (of adultery), then fail to produce four witnesses, you shall whip them eighty lashes, and do not accept any testimony from them; they are wicked.

(٤) وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ فَاجْلِدُوهُمْ ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً وَلَا تَقْبَلُوا لَهُمْ شَهَادَةً أَبَدًا وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

This makes it clear that adultery is a gross sin while also putting safeguards against making it tolerable, prolific, and open in society. But in addition, the Quran also still advocates for forgiveness after setting the limits.

[4:16] The couple who commits adultery shall be punished. If they repent and reform, you shall leave them alone. GOD is Redeemer, Most Merciful.

(١٦) وَالَّذٰنِ يَأْتِيَانِهَا مِنْكُمْ فَآذُوهُمَا فَإِنْ تَابَا وَأَصْلَحَا فَأَعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ تَوَّابًا رَحِيمًا

ENEMY COmbatants

We also see this in the case of enemy combatants during war. Firstly the Quran sets the limits to who can be considered an enemy combatant, as well as how they are permitted to be killed. But in addition, it also eliminates the act of one who surrenders before they are overcome.

[5:33] The just retribution for those who wage war against GOD and His messenger while committing horrendous crimes, is to be killed, or crucified, or to have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or to be banished from the land. This is to humiliate them in this life, then they suffer a far worse retribution in the Hereafter.

 إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ الَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَنْ يُقَتَّلُوا أَوْ يُصَلَّبُوا أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُمْ مِنْ خِلَافٍ أَوْ يُنْفَوْا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ ذَٰلِكَ لَهُمْ خِزْيٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَلَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

[5:34] Exempted are those who turn in mercy ( tābū /تَابُوا ) before you overcome them. You should know that GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

 إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تَقْدِرُوا عَلَيْهِمْ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ

It is worth highlighting that God ends the verse using the names Forgiver ( غَفُورٌ ) and Most Merciful ( رَحِيمٌ ).