An Interrogation of the Prescribed Punishments Mentioned in Quran 5:

32-34 as a Panacea to Crime Prevalence in Nigeria

Mubarak Oluwadamilola Sanni

 

Abstract: The spate of crimes in Nigeria is alarming, and this situation has continued to attract the attention of relevant stakeholders in the country, including religious institutions. The provisions of religion to ameliorate social problems are often lightly considered. Two systems exist to address criminal issues. These include, the Penal Code, based on Islamic law, which is applicable in 12 Northern Nigeria states, where there is a Muslim majority, and the Criminal Code, based on English law, which applicable in the Southern part of Nigeria, where there is a Christian majority. Both are substantive laws on crimes and punishments in Nigeria. However, some acts are crimes under the Penal Code but are not under the Criminal Code. For example, unlike the Criminal Code, adultery and drinking alcohol are crimes under the Penal Code. This article examines the crime situation in Nigeria by referring to the exegesis of the Qur’?n 5: 32-34 in the light of Tafs?r al-Qur’?n al-‘Adh?m and F?-zil?l al-Qur'?n authored by Ibn Khatir and Sayyid Qu?ub respectively. The analysis is this article finds that the provisions of Nigerian Criminal Code fairly align with the Islamic Penal Code, yet the practices and application of some of these provisions do not really portray the Islamic legal system. With this analytical outcome, this article recommends that the high rate of crime would adequately reduce if the provisions of Islamic legal system as contained in the exegesis of Qur’?n 5: 32-34 are befittingly applied in Nigeria.