Also, another big topic is that of Sharia Law. I understand a lot of it, but when it comes to Justice and the punishments it states, I have difficulty understand/ accepting it.
For example, the amputation of hands for theft - is that something that all Muslims tend to agree with? I know Muslims belief on Sharia Law varies, but don't know how it is regarding this part.
How do Muslims on this forum see it, do you agree that it should be a punishment today, if at all?
Most has been said in the posts above me, would just like to add that Sharia Laws apply in totality in such a way that crime is prohibited and prevented to its MAXIMUM extent. If you are a good person,Why would you steal , you may have many justifications ; because you really needed it, there's no other way, plenty of insensitive rich people around who won't care if they loose a purse or a gadget etc.
For instance, It is in Sharia system to provide for the poor, have sufficient support system for the widows and for the sustenance of their kids, sufficient fixed and required stipends for the disabled for their comfortable living and allowances for even travelers who may need assistance in boarding lodging at a transit location, allowances for their health care etc.
So when misery at such base level is Prevented with such generous measures, it becomes hard for any sane citizen to find a justification to steal and loot other people to burn the oil of his home. But then there are other things as well.
The punishment of stealing is applicable to a minimum level of amount stolen, not the minutest of thing that one may carry, although he is answerable for that on the day of judgment, but in any case if he regrets that act, he can seek forgiveness and give alms to the poor for compensation of that act in the days of ignorance or temptation.
Secondly, There is a law God acts by. He says, (hadess Qudsi)I don't let a person get caught for a crime when its the first time he's done it, I give him time to think and rethink its consequences for a many number of times while he keeps on committing it, trying to stop him from that crime in many instances in many ways, and then a point comes when he crosses all limits of repentance and NEEDS to be stopped in a forceful way, only THEN he gets caught.
I have seen this with my own eyes many times. There are people who do mean-ish or criminal-ish things and they never get caught initially, and then one day they get caught red handed or in a way that could really stop them.
Allah says, "I hide the flaws of a person untill he exposes himself to the world'. The invisible system of Allah ensures that He hides a person's flaws as long as the person keeps on receiving warnings from the divine system to stop doing it on his own, (like being really close to getting caught, being close to a mishap etc) BEFORE his crimes get registered and get known in the public. A person gets a plenty of chances to repent and leave that crime, it is only when a person becomes a repetitive nuisance to the society that the system of Allah brings him to pay for his crimes because such a person is causing harm to other people and going without justice.
So the first effect of the system in ensure justice in such a way that no one sleeps on an empty stomach and no one is in dire need of assistance in such a way that he'd go around stealing people's things. Then when that is ensured, the second leg of the system gets incorporated which eradicates crime in a forceful way.
And yes in systems where the first CANNOT be or is Not implemented and there are many destitute and poor people prone to pick things, the 2nd system cannot be implemented. And first, work is done to make sure that poverty is eliminated first. So, this is how things go. Hope you got the gist of some of it.
