Attitudes Towards Crime

What makes crime a problem?

A crime is an illegal act that is punishable by law. Laws protect people’s rights and safety, and the police and courts uphold them. Theft, for example, deprives someone of their property; violence can cause injury, fear and lasting distress. Crime also damages trust, making people feel less secure within their communities.

Muslim attitudes towards crime connect these harms with responsibility towards Allah. Hurting or exploiting another person conflicts with the duty to act justly and care for others. However, crime and religious wrongdoing are not identical: something can be forbidden in Islam without being illegal under British law, such as drinking alcohol as an adult.

Guidance from Surah 16:90–92

The Qur’an gives Muslims both positive duties and warnings against wrongdoing. Surah 16:90 teaches that Allah commands “justice, doing good, and generosity towards relatives” and forbids what is “shameful, blameworthy, and oppressive”. Muslims should therefore do more than avoid breaking the law: they should act fairly, help others and resist behaviour that harms or exploits people.

Verse 91 tells believers to fulfil pledges made in Allah’s name and not break their oaths. Keeping promises makes people trustworthy; dishonesty undermines the relationships on which a safe community depends.

Verse 92 warns against using oaths to deceive one another and reminds people of the Day of Resurrection. This connects everyday conduct with the akhirah, life after death: Muslims believe that they will be accountable to Allah for their actions. Avoiding detection by the police does not remove that responsibility.

Together, these teachings encourage honesty, justice and concern for others as ways of preventing crime.

Crime as a distraction from Allah

For Muslims, life should be centred on worshipping Allah and following his guidance. Crime turns attention towards harmful desires, such as gaining wealth dishonestly or exercising power over others, instead of fulfilling religious duties.

Surah 5:90–91 warns against intoxicants and gambling. These can distract people from faith and may contribute to harmful behaviour. Intoxication can weaken judgement, while gambling losses can create financial pressure. Islam’s prohibition of these activities is therefore relevant both to religious commitment and to preventing circumstances that may lead to crime.

Surah 4:59 also teaches obedience to Allah, the Messenger and those in authority. Respect for lawful authority helps maintain an orderly society rather than treating personal wishes as the only guide to behaviour.

Causes of crime and Muslim responses

Crime has several possible causes, often working together. Poverty can create pressure to obtain money or necessities illegally. Muslims can respond through zakah, sharing wealth with people in need. Islam also prohibits interest and gambling, addressing practices that can contribute to financial hardship.

A troubled upbringing, including abuse or exposure to criminal behaviour, can affect the support and examples available to a young person. Muslim parents can teach right from wrong, while a madrasah, a place of Islamic education, can reinforce moral guidance and responsibility towards Allah.

Alcohol and drug misuse may impair judgement or create pressure to fund an addiction. Forbidding intoxicants aims to prevent these harms before they develop.

Low self-esteem can also contribute to offending. The teaching that human beings are Allah’s khalifahs, or stewards, gives people a valued role and a responsibility to care for creation. This can encourage a sense of purpose rather than destructive behaviour.

These factors do not make crime inevitable or remove personal responsibility. They help explain why prevention includes practical support as well as moral teaching.

Muslim Chaplains’ Association: supporting change

The Muslim Chaplains’ Association (MCA) supports Muslim chaplains who provide spiritual guidance and care to people in custody. Chaplains can help prisoners reflect on their conduct and reconnect with their faith. This puts religious teachings into practice through support rather than simply condemnation.

The MCA also promotes rehabilitation and supports resettlement in the community after prison. Its aim is to help former prisoners rebuild their lives and reduce the likelihood of reoffending. It works with other organisations and strengthens relationships between Muslim communities and the justice system. Support for Muslim women in custody is another part of its work.

Mosaic Community Trust: prevention through community relationships

The Mosaic Community Trust (MCT) works with disadvantaged communities in Westminster. Its approach includes strengthening community relationships, providing support and helping residents engage with public services.

In its 2021–2022 work, the Trust ran monthly police workshops where members of Black and minority ethnic communities could discuss crime-related issues with local police representatives. Its chief executive also served on the Independent Metropolitan Police Advisory Group, raising concerns and advising on policing and community crime prevention. These activities provide ways for residents’ concerns to inform police work and encourage communication about safety.

Towards the end of 2021, the Trust received funding to support newly arrived Afghan refugees. Alongside English literacy and practical life-skills sessions for women, it organised sessions with local police covering British law, safety, reporting crime and citizens’ rights. Knowing how to report crime and seek help can make people better able to protect themselves and others.

The Trust’s wider community support and skills training also address isolation and disadvantage. These are contributions to prevention, not evidence that all crime has been eliminated. The MCA and MCT show two complementary approaches: helping offenders change and helping communities become safer and better supported.