The Concept of Tawbah (Repentance) and Its Application in Juvenile Rehabilitation in Kaduna State

This study examines the concept of Tawbah (Islamic repentance) and its practical application in juvenile rehabilitation programmes in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. Youth crime and delinquency have become growing concerns in Kaduna, and the potential role of Islamic spiritual rehabilitation frameworks in complementing state correctional approaches merits academic exploration. The study adopts a descriptive qualitative design, using document analysis, observation, and semi-structured interviews with 20 juvenile rehabilitation officers and 10 Islamic educators operating in two state-run juvenile facilities in Kaduna South and Kaduna North local government areas. Data were analysed using thematic coding. Findings reveal that Islamic concepts of Tawbah, Nafs (self) awareness, and moral accountability are informally referenced in counselling sessions but are not formally integrated into the rehabilitation curriculum. Juvenile officers with Islamic education backgrounds report better engagement with Muslim juvenile offenders. The study recommends the formalisation of an Islamic-based moral rehabilitation module in Kaduna's juvenile correctional facilities, the employment of trained Islamic counsellors, and the development of community reintegration pathways grounded in Islamic principles of forgiveness and social responsibility. Keywords: Tawbah, repentance, juvenile rehabilitation, Kaduna State, Islamic counselling.