Evaluation of Children Corporal Punishment from the Perspective of Islamic Ethics

Evaluation of Children Corporal Punishment from the Perspective of Islamic Ethics
Muhammad Javad Falah
Somayeh Hejazi Nasb

Abstract
There are various ways to train children among which the corporal punishment has been suggested as the last resort. In this paper, based on the proposition and content analysis of religious texts, especially narratives from the Infallibles (peace be upon them) the subject of corporal punishment and its different forms are discussed and then we express the Islamic ethical view regarding the permissibility of corporal punishment. In addition, the approaches taken by western scientists and psychologists will also be discussed.
Based on the findings of this research, some ethical principles such as the principle of human dignity and reverence and the principle of love and affection along with explicit prohibitions against child abuse can be some of the evidences against corporal punishment. Yet, corporal punishment for the purpose of training, under specific circumstances, has been verified by Islam. The challenges and conflicts which will arise as a result of this verdict, such as the violation of human dignity and self-respect and the inconsistency between this verdict and the jurisprudential principle of "La Zarar" (the principle which says no religious verdict should be harmful for a third party) are all justified and Islamic ethics is to respond to them.

Keywords
Islamic Ethics, Applied Ethics, Training Method, Children Corporal Punishment, Ethicality of Punishment.