In His Tablets ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explains the difference between
revenge and punishment. He affirms that individuals do not have the right to
take revenge, that revenge is despised in the eyes of God, and that the motive
for punishment is not vengeance, but the imposition of a penalty for the
committed offence. In Some Answered Questions, He confirms that it is the right
of society to impose punishments on criminals for the purpose of protecting its
members and defending its existence.
- The Universal House of Justice (The 'Notes’
section of the Kitab-i-Aqdas)
