In the field of penalty , the criminal policy predominated  over the judicial systems of different countries, is based on viewpoints that nowadays in the classical criminal law are classified into three general approaches ,  "consequential" , "retributional" and "mixed or middle" . In justifying punishment, the "consequential" theory emphasizes  its results and benefits, and therefore has a forward_looking view. On the contrary the "retributive" theory believes that the legitimacy of punishment , irrespective of its results , is justified for the commitment of crime in the past , and hence has a backward-looking view . Also some thinkers by mixing the elements of these two theories are trying to present a theory  which considers both aspects mentioned.

The judicial system of our country, as an Islamic country, should be based upon Islamic criminal principles . Hence , a recourse to the Quran as the most important source of revelation in Islam , and a search for the essential questions concerned with the issue of punishment , as of nature , aim , quality and quantity of punishment in the Quran is necessary . Of course the purport of punishment in the Quran , beyond the written and formal punishment , contains the whole kinds of punishment , including written punishment , natural informal and unwritten punishment , unnatural informal and unwritten punishment , and also punishment concerned with afterlife . And punishments are not considered just as the executive guarantee of establishing safe relations between God and human beings . Considering the fact that human beings are endowed with authority and free will , the Quran emphasizes much on the aim of retribution ; an aim which has been overshadowed in the criminal policy of classical judicial systems by other correctional and reformative goals .

After the examination of historical changes and variations over punishment as the continuation of the classical criminal law , this thesis aims to deal with the meaning of punishment and the essential questions concerned with it into the classical criminal system , and then by comparing and searching these issues in the Quran , to attain finally the Quranic idea about punishment .