The islamic System of Punishments is Mercy from Allah (s.w.t )

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
The Islamic System of Punishments
is Mercy from Allah (S.W.T.)
(Friday speech was delivered by Imam Mohamed Baianonie at the Islamic Center of Raleigh, N.C., on December 11, 1987)

We believe that Allah (S.W.T.) is the most beneficent, the most merciful as He has said. We also believe that Allah (S.W.T.) is the all wise, the all knowing as He has said. He is the all knowing for His knowledge can not be bounded, and nothing occurs without His knowledge, whether it is in the heavens or on the earth. And He is of supreme wisdom for He places everything where it belongs.
We also believe that Allah (S.W.T.) is more merciful with His servants than the compassionate mother with her beloved baby. This was told to us by the prophet (S.A.W.) in the hadith that Imam Bukhari and Muslim reported.
We also believe that Islam is the comprehensive and complete system that Allah (S.W.T.) chose for man to regulate and guide his life with. It is the greatest blessing that Allah (S.W.T.) has blessed us with. About this, Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat Al-Ma’idah, (verse 3), what can be translated as, "This day, I have perfected your deen for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your deen." This isthe mercy of Allah upon mankind by sending to them His prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).Allah (S.W.T.) addresses the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) in the Qur’an, in surat Al-Anbiya’, (Verse 107), what can be translated as, "We have sent you (O Muhammad) not, but As a mercy for the Alamin(mankind, creatures)."
Some may inquire how can mercy of Allah (S.W.T.) with His servants go with the Islamic system of punishments and deterrents that Allah (S.W.T.) legislated?
In reality, there is no contradiction between the mercy of Allah (S.W.T.) and the Islamic system of punishments that calls for an attempt to make them compatible with each other. Sometimes, there is a lack of understanding, or short sightedness, or poor vision because of the different non-Islamic ideas and perspectives that we were exposed to for a long time. These foreign ideas have negatively affected the proper thinking, the correct vision and perspective.
Based on the facts that we already have about Allah (S.W.T.) and which constitute a part of our Islamic aqeedah - that is Allah (S.W.T.) is the most beneficent, the most merciful, the all-knowing and of supreme wisdom, He is more merciful with His servants more than the compassionate mother with her baby – with this we will definitely get to the conclusion that everything Allah (S.W.T.) has legislated for His servants including the system of punishments and
deterrents is in reality the very mercy itself, and the very wisdom itself, even if some of us do not grasp, for one a reason or another, some of the merciful aspects of this system.
Allah (S.W.T.) created man and did not leave him without guidance, rather He put guidelines embodied in the legislation that is suitable for the life of the individual and the society. A part of this legislation that Islam came with, is the system of punishments that includes Al-Hoodood which, are the punishments extracted from the legislation, Al-Qissaas which, is the punishment that is set to a range of crimes like attacking a person, and At-Ta'zeer which, is the punishment that is related to crimes that have not been explicitly addressed in our legislation, rather it was left for the opinion of the ruler and his Ijtihad. This opinion must be based on the fact that the punishment must deter from committing the crime.
The prophet (S.A.W.) implemented the punishments during his life upon individuals that deserved punishments. The prophet (S.A.W.) was then followed by the rightly guided khalifs and those khalifs that came after them. This implementation of punishments had the greatest influence on the reform of the individual as well as the society.
Compromising or even showing softness in implementing the punishments leads to chaos in the human society, and increases the number and the rate of crimes, and leads to absence of peace and stability like it is shown in the societies that do not implement the Islamic legislation.
The punishment for the crime has to be a deterrent for the criminals. If it is not a deterrent, then the goal for the punishment is not accomplished, rather it leads to a negative reaction like it is observed in these societies.
The system of punishment in Islam is mercy because it protects and keeps the well being of five necessities of man: protecting the deen, the soul, the offspring, money, and mind without which the human life can not be stable. To protect the deen, Islam prohibits turning back away from Islam by punishing the one who turns away from it. Also, to protect the deen, Allah (S.W.T.) orders the jihad to raise the word of Allah (S.W.T.). To protect the soul, Islam prohibits murder and punishes the murderer and implements the principle of Al-Qisas(the Law of Equality in punishment, retaliation). And to protect the offspring, Islam prohibits Az-Zina (the unlawful sexual intercourse) and accusing the others with Az-Zina and punishes the one who commits Az-Zina and the one who accuses the others people with Az-Zina. And to protect money, Islam prohibits robbery and punishes the robber. And to protect the mind, Islam prohibits drinking alcohol, and punishes the one who drinks it. Also, Islam has legislated a punishment for plunderers. All this is to instill stability and peace in the society.
If we look into all that, we will know how Islam builds a great society. We will also know that the system of punishment in Islam is mercy for people because when the criminal knows that he is going to be punished severely, he will change his mind and turn away from committing the crime. This way, Islam protects his life and saves the rest of the society from the evil of criminals and maintains their peace and stability. This way, the punishment in the Islamic system is a saving of life for people. About this Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat Al-Baqarah, (verse 179), what can be translated as, "And there is (a saving of) life for you in Al-Qisas(the Law of Equality in punishment, retaliation), O men of understanding, that you may become Al-Muttaqun(the pious)."
Imam Ash-Shwkani says in explaining this verse: "O people you have in this punishment, that Allah (S.W.T.) legislated, life. This is because when a man knows that he is going to be killed if he kills another, he will refrain from killing and this keeps himself away from falling into it. In a way, the punishment gives life to people. This is so profound because making the punishment which is killing the murderer life since it deters people from killing one another so that it keep lives going. Allah (S.W.T.) addressed this to those with reflection because they are the ones who look into the results and protects themselves from what may result from punishment. Then, Allah (S.W.T.) ended the verse with the wisdom behind the punishment, "that you may become Al-Muttaqun(the pious)."Meaning you avoid being killed by implementing and maintaining the punishment so that it becomes a reason for taqwa."
Imam Ibn Taymyyah made it clear that the system of punishment in Islam is mercy even though it looks sever and harsh. This is because it will result in great benefits in the deen and the worldly life making it in reality true mercy. He said: "the Islamic punishments are beneficial medicines. Allah treats with it, those who have sickness in there hearts. Because of that, truly it is mercy from Allah (S.W.T.) to mankind. Allah (S.W.T.) addresses the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) in the Qur’an, in surat Al-Anbiya’, (Verse 107), what can be translated as, "We have sent you (O Muhammad) not, but As a mercy for the Alamin(mankind, creatures)." Whoever left this beneficial mercy, because of false and untrue mercy to the sick person he is the person that helps increase the pain of that sick person and destroy him. Even if he did all that out of good intention, however in reality he is truly ignorant. Just like what many men and women do with their sick people when they do not give them the necessary medicine, and with their children when they leave teaching them the necessary discipline or not punishing them for wrong doing, because of false mercy to them. All of that will lead and cause to their corruption and destruction." (Al-Fatawaa 15/290)