Capital Punishment, is it permitted or prohibited ?

Capital punishment, death penalty or execution is punishment by death. The sentence is referred to as a death sentence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences.  Capital punishment is a matter of active controversy in various countries and states, and positions can vary within a single political Ideology or cultural region.

Ayatollah Sayed Sadiq Shirazi Islamic law on the subject of  Death Penalty state. “The death penalty in Islam is very rare indeed, and applicable to only the most severe crimes such as Rape, Killing, etc and is permissible only if all Islamic Rules are applied, hence, this law can be considered as well.  contrary to most laws in which capital punishment is rendered out for many crimes. The death penalty is amongst the most severe prohibitions. As for the few cases that the death penalty may be applicable, it is permissible for the Theological Teacher [i.e. the marje‘] to grant stay of execution or reduce the death penalty to a lighter sentence.”  

   Resources:

 Islamic Law By Sayed Sadiq Shirazi: pg.529

Gathered by:

Research Department of Shirazi Foundation

Washington D.C