Retaliation in the Quran and its Place in Islamic Penal Policy

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Rojin Masoudi 1
Jamal Rezaei Hossein Abadi 2
1 PhD student in Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author)
2 Assistant Professor of Jurisprudence and Fundamentals of Islamic Law, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/lc.2026.573392.1739
Abstract
Retaliation is one of the key and fundamental principles of Islamic criminal law, which is rooted in Quranic teachings and aims to achieve justice, deter crime, and preserve human dignity. This principle, especially in cases of intentional crimes, provides the basis for the implementation of a punishment commensurate with the crime committed and prevents disproportionate or arbitrary violence. Using a descriptive-analytical method, this article examines the concept of retaliation from the perspective of the Quran and Islamic jurisprudence and analyzes its place in Islamic criminal policy. The research shows that retaliation not only has a deterrent and punitive aspect, but also plays a corrective and stabilizing role in social justice and prevents the emergence of injustice and violations of individual rights. Also, a comparative study of this principle with modern criminal approaches shows that retaliation can be inspiring in shaping contemporary criminal policy, especially in the field of ensuring a balance between the rights of the victim and the offender. Finally, this article emphasizes that a precise and scientific understanding of retaliation and an explanation of its place in the Islamic penal system can be a practical guide to creating criminal justice that is appropriate to the needs of today's societies.
Keywords
Retaliation
Criminal policy
Islam

Subjects