Book Review: The Rights of Prisoners According to Islamic Teachings Muhammad Shirazi

The Rights of Prisoners According to Islamic Teachings

Book Review: The Rights of Prisoners According to Islamic Teachings Muhammad Shirazi

Before Buying, Better to Read the Book Review: The Rights of Prisoners According to Islamic Teachings Muhammad Shirazi by Legaproblema.com - What does Islamic justice say about prisoner rights? How does Islamic law frame human rights within the context of incarceration? Book The Rights of Prisoners According to Islamic Teachings Muhammad Shirazi offers a comprehensive exploration of these questions, shedding light on the intersection of Islamic criminal justice and human dignity.

This work challenges conventional prison systems by emphasizing that imprisonment should be a last resort and limited to very few offenses under Islamic law. The author, Imam Sayyid Muhammad Sadiq Al Shirazi, stresses the fundamental principle of freedom, highlighting the harmful effects of imprisonment not only on the individual but also on society at large. He advocates for minimizing incarceration and ultimately eliminating prisons, reflecting a humane and reformative approach.¹

The book also confronts the issue of torture and illegal detention practices, categorically rejecting these as un-Islamic and voiding any confession obtained under duress. It sets strict criteria for the application of Islamic penal law, ensuring that punishments are only executed when all Shari‘ah conditions are met, thus safeguarding prisoner rights within the framework of Islamic justice.²

Overall, this book serves as a vital resource for understanding prisoner rights through the lens of Islamic teachings, offering insights relevant to human rights activists, reformists, and scholars of Islamic criminal justice.

Book Details

Author

Sayyid Muhammad Sadiq Al Shirazi

Original Language

Arabic

Translation

English (available in PDF and print formats)

Publisher

Ghaemiyeh Center of Computerized Researches; CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

ISBN

978-XXXXXXX (varies by edition)

Length

Approximately 60 pages

Genre

Religious Studies, Islamic Law, Human Rights

Structure and Contents

Curious how Islamic law structures prisoner rights? The book is organized into clear chapters that systematically address the topic:

• Chapter 1: Freedom – a Fundamental Principle
• Chapter 2: Torture and Prisons Must Be Purged – condemning torture and discussing interrogation ethics³
• Chapter 3: Islamic Penal Law – Criteria for Implementation, including conditions for valid punishment
• Chapter 4: Rights of a Prisoner – detailing prisoners’ freedoms and activities allowed during incarceration
• Chapter 5: Rulings – Fatwas on imprisonment, detention, torture, and confessions

The book also explores the social, political, economic, educational, and health harms caused by imprisonment, advocating for reforms aligned with Islamic justice principles.

Strong Points of the Book

What makes this book stand out in discussions of prisoner rights and Islamic justice?

• Human-Centered Approach: Emphasizes dignity and freedom even within incarceration, reflecting core Islamic values.⁴
• Clear Legal Framework: Defines strict criteria for punishment under Islamic law to prevent unjust imprisonment.
• Condemnation of Torture: Categorically rejects torture and invalidates forced confessions, aligning with international human rights norms.⁵
• Practical Recommendations: Advocates for reducing prisoner numbers and ultimately eliminating prisons, a progressive stance within Islamic jurisprudence.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Addresses both theoretical and practical aspects of prisoner rights, including rights to work, education, and family contact.

Impact and Legacy

How has Book Review: The Rights of Prisoners According to Islamic Teachings Muhammad Shirazi influenced Islamic criminal justice and human rights discourse?

This book has become a key reference for Muslim reformists and human rights activists seeking to reconcile Islamic law with modern human rights standards. By articulating a vision of justice that limits imprisonment and forbids torture, it has contributed to ongoing debates about prison reform in Muslim-majority countries.⁶

The work encourages governments and Islamic scholars to revisit penal codes and detention practices, promoting policies that respect prisoner rights and dignity in accordance with Islamic teachings. Its legacy lies in fostering a more humane and just approach to criminal justice within Islamic frameworks.

Muhammad Shirazi

Criticism of the Book

Is the book without fault? Some critics argue that the idealistic vision of minimizing prisons and abolishing torture may be challenging to implement in contemporary political contexts where security concerns dominate.

Others note that the book’s reliance on traditional Islamic jurisprudence may limit its appeal to secular human rights advocates or those unfamiliar with Islamic legal concepts. Additionally, the book’s relatively brief length means some topics are treated in summary form rather than exhaustive detail.

Nonetheless, these critiques do not diminish the book’s valuable contribution to discussions on prisoner rights and Islamic justice.

Comparison with Other Similar Books

How does this book compare with other works on prisoner rights and Islamic law?

Aspect	The Rights of Prisoners According to Islamic Teachings	Other Islamic Criminal Justice Texts	Secular Human Rights Prisoner Rights Books
Focus	Islamic law and prisoner rights	Broader Islamic criminal law, sometimes less focus on prisoners	Universal human rights, secular legal frameworks
Approach to Punishment	Strict criteria, emphasis on mercy and limitation	Varies; some emphasize traditional punishments	Emphasizes abolition of torture and humane treatment
Torture and Confession	Explicit rejection of torture and invalid confessions	Mixed; some texts less explicit	Strong condemnation of torture
Practical Recommendations	Reduce imprisonment, allow prisoner freedoms	Varies widely	Focus on reform and rehabilitation

Prisoner Rights in Islamic Justice

What exactly are prisoner rights under Islamic justice? This book clarifies that prisoners retain their dignity and many freedoms despite incarceration. They may engage in commercial activities, intellectual pursuits, and maintain family connections. Islamic justice demands humane treatment, adequate food, health care, and psychological well-being.⁷

Islamic law limits imprisonment to very few offenses and insists on rigorous conditions before any punishment is applied. The book underlines the principle that imprisonment should be a last resort, reflecting the overarching Islamic commitment to justice and mercy.

Human Rights and Islamic Law

How do human rights intersect with Islamic law in the context of prisoner treatment? The book illustrates that Islamic teachings inherently protect human rights by forbidding torture, requiring fair trials, and ensuring prisoner dignity. It argues that Islamic law, properly applied, supports many principles found in international human rights conventions.⁸

This alignment offers a bridge for dialogue between Islamic legal traditions and global human rights frameworks, promoting mutual understanding and reform.

Islamic Criminal Justice and Prison Reform

Can Islamic criminal justice contribute to prison reform? According to this book, yes. It advocates for a system that minimizes incarceration, abolishes torture, and respects prisoner rights. The author calls for Islamic governments to adopt policies that reflect these values, potentially transforming penal systems in Muslim countries.⁹

The book’s emphasis on mercy, fairness, and rehabilitation aligns with modern reform movements, suggesting that Islamic criminal justice can be a powerful force for humane treatment of prisoners.

Final Ruling

In sum, Book The Rights of Prisoners According to Islamic Teachings Muhammad Shirazi presents a compelling and humane vision of prisoner rights grounded in Islamic teachings. It challenges harsh prison practices, condemns torture, and insists on strict legal criteria for punishment.

For those interested in the nexus of Islamic law, human rights, and criminal justice, this book is an essential resource that encourages reform and respect for human dignity within the prison system.

After reading this book, usually people also search as following: The rights of prisoners in Islam PDF, The rights of prisoners in Islam Wikipedia, The rights of prisoners in Islam quotes, The rights of prisoners in Islam IslamQA, Female prisoners of war in Islam, Quran verse about prisoners of war, Islamic rules of war, 10 rules of war in Islam.

Then some of them also have some following questions:

1. What does Islam say about prisoners?
2. What does the Quran say about the treatment of criminals?
3. What does the Quran say about rights?
4. Who were the prisoners of Badr?
5. What is the Quran 47 4?
6. What does God say about prisoners?
7. Why does Islam appeal to prisoners?
8. What are Islamic beliefs on crime and punishment?
9. What does the Quran say about punishment?
10. What is the Islamic punishment for crime?

Do you also have questions? Or curious about where you can download the book, read the book online, or buy the book online? Or want to add something more to the review above and give responses? You can write a comment below.