Once a man said to Allah’s Apostle “O Allah’s Apostle! I may not attend the (compulsory congregational) prayer because so and so (the Imam) prolongs the prayer when he leads us for it.....
BITS ‘N’ PIECES
Narrated by Abu Mas’ud Al-Ansari (R.A)
Once a man said to Allah’s Apostle “O Allah’s Apostle! I may not attend the (compulsory congregational) prayer because so and so (the Imam) prolongs the prayer when he leads us for it. The narrator added: “I never saw the Prophet more furious in giving advice than he was on that day. The Prophet said, “O people! Some of you make others dislike good deeds (the prayers). So whoever leads the people in prayer should shorten it because among them there are the sick, the weak, and the needy, (having some jobs to do).”
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 3, Number 90
Michael Barrett was the last person to be publicly executed in Britain
On May 26, 1868, Michael Barrett became the last person to be publicly executed in Britain. His execution at Newgate Prison marked the end of a centuries-old practice that had drawn crowds of spectators, often turning executions into gruesome public spectacles. Barrett was an Irish Fenian, convicted of involvement in the Clerkenwell explosion of 1867, which was an attempt to free Fenian prisoners from Clerkenwell Prison in London. The explosion, however, was miscalculated, causing the deaths of 12 innocent people and injuring many others. Despite controversy surrounding the evidence against him, Barrett was sentenced to death, and his execution became a significant moment in British legal history.
Barrett’s execution took place outside Newgate Prison, a site infamous for its long history of capital punishment. Located in the heart of London near the Old Bailey, Newgate had served as a prison since the 12th century. Over the centuries, it housed criminals ranging from petty thieves to notorious murderers. Public executions were commonly held outside the prison, attracting large, often unruly crowds eager to witness the grim spectacle. For a gaoler’s fee, the public could view the condemned the day before an execution and even be let into his cell at Newgate Prison. These events were considered both a form of punishment and a deterrent, meant to reinforce the power of the law.
However, by the mid-19th century, public sentiment had shifted against the practice. Critics argued that public executions were barbaric and often led to disorderly behavior rather than instilling moral lessons. The execution of Michael Barrett, which drew thousands of onlookers, became the final catalyst for change. Later in 1868, the Capital Punishment Amendment Act was passed, ending public executions in Britain. From then on, executions were carried out within prison walls, away from the public eye.
The historic importance of Newgate Prison extends beyond Barrett’s execution. It was a symbol of law and punishment in Britain for centuries, undergoing multiple reconstructions before being demolished in 1902. Its site now hosts the Central Criminal Court, better known as the Old Bailey, which continues to serve as a cornerstone of British justice. The transition from public to private executions reflected broader societal changes, emphasizing a more regulated and less theatrical approach to capital punishment.
