Reconstruction of Sayyid Quthb's Thoughts on the Death Penalty in a Human Rights Perspective

Riza Wahyuni* -  Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Mandailing Natal, Indonesia

Abstract


The death penalty is one of the issues that continues to be debated in Islamic criminal law and Human Rights (HAM). The debate arose because of differences in views on the position of the right to life as a fundamental human right. This research aims to reconstruct Sayyid Quṭb's thoughts on the death penalty from the perspective of Human Rights. This research uses a qualitative approach with the type of library research. Data were obtained from the works of Sayyid Quṭb, especially Fī Ẓilāl al-Qur'ān, as well as various literature related to Islamic criminal law, and Human Rights. Data analysis is carried out through content analysis in a descriptive-analytical manner. The results of the study show that Sayyid Quṭb views the death penalty as part of the sharia system that aims to realize the benefits and protect the main objectives of the sharia, especially the protection of the soul (ḥifẓ al-nafs). The death penalty is positioned as an instrument to maintain justice, social order, and prevent damage, so its application is limited to certain criminal acts through strict legal terms and processes. This study also found a paradigm difference between Sayyid Quṭb’s thought and contemporary human rights concepts. If modern human rights place the right to life as an almost absolute right, Sayyid Quṭb views that the protection of the right to life must consider the interests of society as a whole. Thus, the death penalty in Sayyid Quṭb's perspective is understood as an effort to maintain a balance between the enforcement of justice, the protection of human rights, and the goals of the sharia.

Keywords


Sayyid Quṭb, Death Penalty, Human Rights

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.24952/ejhis.v4i1.21112

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