by Don Davidson

Created on: December 07, 2009

By Western standards, there is no doubt that certain punishments prescribed in the Muslim holy book, the Qur'n, are harsh. For example, the punishment mandated in the Qur'n for stealing is to cut off the thief's hands (5:38). Adulterers are to be flogged (24:2). Hypocrites and "agitators" are to be killed (33:60-61). Punishments in some of the Muslim countries which have adopted the "Sharia" (Islamic law) are similarly harsh, such as floggings ordered for Sudanese women whose only offense was wearing pants instead of a dress, or the punishment of death or imprisonment for trying to convert a Muslim to another religion. And if we broaden the definition of "Islamic punishments" still further, we could include certain Arab customs (which really have nothing to do with Islam, except that they are prevalent in some Muslim countries), such as the "honor killing" of a daughter who embarrasses the family, or the rape of a young woman in retaliation for the misconduct of her male relative?

Yet I would argue that Muslims are merely following the example of Allah, who is much more brutal and sadistic in the infliction of eternal punishments than anything devised by humans on earth. For example, the Qur'n states that unbelievers will be cast into Hell, where eternal fire burns and torments them forever. (See, for example, 9:68: "Allah has promised the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women and the unbelievers the fire of hell to abide therein; it is enough for them; and Allah has cursed them and they shall have lasting punishment.") As their skin is burned off, Allah creates new skin for them so that their pain and torment may continue indefinitely. The only water these unfortunate residents have to drink is scalding (or boiling) water. Their food is decaying filth, and worse. They are bound in chains, blasted by scorching winds, and flogged with lashes of iron. They cry out for death, but they cannot die. Allah will not allow it.

The eternal punishments which the Qur'n says are inflicted on non-Muslims in the afterlife are the real "Islamic punishments," and "harsh" is too mild a word to describe them. They are simply horrific.

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