One of the pretexts propounded by the captious is “Islamic punishments and penal laws”. They say:
How Islamic punishments and penal laws are compatible with clemency and benevolence?
Is giving one hundred lashes to one who has committed a sin, not considered as violence?
Is stoning a man or woman who has lost his or her chastity as a result of domination of sensual desire compatible with Islamic benevolence?
Is cutting the hands and feet of thieves in accordance with religious clemency?
Are severe and harsh punishments not considered as a sort of violence?
Reply: There are subtle points in the “penal laws and punishments” which help us in replying to these questions. Studying them, it is clarified that penal laws and punishments too are another branch of Islamic clemency and benevolence, although they may seem violent at first for some.