Question: My question is
about a person who is involved in sex with several girls, all of whom yield to
his desires even though they are clearly being exploited, should we complain
about this to any government authority because he is defiling the atmosphere
of a place or should we hide all this?
Answer: You have described a very
sad state of affairs. The crime this criminal seems to be obsessed with
is indeed awfully disgusting and heinous.
As far as the action that you should
take is considered, I would say that you are the best judge in this situation
since you are in a position to better understand the circumstances. I would,
however, like to bring to your notice some facts that one must consider
before embarking on such an expedition.
Keeping in view the spirit of Islamic
teachings and what the Prophet (sws) is reported to have said in this regard,
the crime of those who stumble and commit adultery should be kept hidden
from society in order to give them a chance to mend their ways. However,
if a person is of the view that this will allow the couple to go astray
further and lead a complete life of sin, then he may report it to the authorities.
In this case he will have to produce four eyewitnesses in the court of
law to prove the crime. These witnesses would testify that they have actually
witnessed the crime committed. In case of failure to produce four eyewitnesses,
the plaintiff shall stand punishable with eighty stripes under the law
of Qadhf (24:4). Again, this provision of four witnesses has been
so promulgated by the Almighty so that this crime is kept hidden from society
and that the criminals be given a chance to mend their ways; and thus be
saved from public humiliation.
However, as far as those people are
concerned who habitually commit this crime, the society does become alive
to their crime. In their case, the Qur’an requires that only four
witnesses be presented, who would testify to their ill ways just to comply
with the proceedings of a court. After their crime stands proven formally,
the Qur’an demands that they be administered an exemplary punishment,
which ranges from executing the criminal in an exemplary manner to exiling
him to another area. (5:33)
However, I think that this second
situation has not yet occurred in the case you have referred to. The society
is not yet aware of the ill ways of the criminal. Thus, in case you choose
to go to the court and register your report, you will surely have to produce
four eyewitnesses as I have described above. It is only after the nature
of this crime is exposed to the court that they declare him a habitual
criminal and choose to administer any of the punishments as ordained in
5:33-4 for those who spread disorder in the society.
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