2:178 Al-Baqara (The Cow)

يمتن تعالى على عباده المؤمنين, بأنه فرض عليهم { الْقِصَاصُ فِي الْقَتْلَى } أي: المساواة فيه, وأن يقتل القاتل على الصفة, التي قتل عليها المقتول, إقامة للعدل والقسط بين العباد. وتوجيه الخطاب لعموم المؤمنين, فيه دليل على أنه يجب عليهم كلهم، حتى أولياء القاتل حتى القاتل بنفسه إعانة ولي المقتول, إذا طلب القصاص وتمكينه من القاتل, وأنه لا يجوز لهم أن يحولوا بين هذا الحد, ويمنعوا الولي من الاقتصاص, كما عليه عادة الجاهلية, ومن أشبههم من إيواء المحدثين. ثم بيَّن تفصيل ذلك فقال: { الْحُرُّ بِالْحُرِّ } يدخل بمنطقوقها, الذكر بالذكر، { وَالْأُنْثَى بِالْأُنْثَى } والأنثى بالذكر, والذكر بالأنثى, فيكون منطوقها مقدما على مفهوم قوله: \" الأنثى بالأنثى \" مع دلالة السنة, على أن الذكر يقتل بالأنثى، وخرج من عموم هذا الأبوان وإن علوا، فلا يقتلان بالولد, لورود السنة بذلك، مع أن في قوله: { الْقِصَاصُ } ما يدل على أنه ليس من العدل, أن يقتل الوالد بولده، ولأن في قلب الوالد من الشفقة والرحمة, ما يمنعه من القتل لولده إلا بسبب اختلال في عقله, أو أذية شديدة جدا من الولد له. وخرج من العموم أيضا, الكافر بالسنة, مع أن الآية في خطاب المؤمنين خاصة. وأيضا فليس من العدل أن يقتل ولي الله بعدوه، والعبد بالعبد, ذكرا كان أو أنثى, تساوت قيمتهما أو اختلفت، ودل بمفهومها على أن الحر, لا يقتل بالعبد, لكونه غير مساو له، والأنثى بالأنثى, أخذ بمفهومها بعض أهل العلم فلم يجز قتل الرجل بالمرأة, وتقدم وجه ذلك. وفي هذه الآية دليل على أن الأصل وجوب القود في القتل, وأن الدية بدل عنه، فلهذا قال: { فَمَنْ عُفِيَ لَهُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ شَيْءٌ } أي: عفا ولي المقتول عن القاتل إلى الدية, أو عفا بعض الأولياء, فإنه يسقط القصاص, وتجب الدية, وتكون الخيرة في القود واختيار الدية إلى الولي. فإذا عفا عنه وجب على الولي, [أي: ولي المقتول] أن يتبع القاتل { بِالْمَعْرُوفِ } من غير أن يشق عليه, ولا يحمله ما لا يطيق, بل يحسن الاقتضاء والطلب, ولا يحرجه. وعلى القاتل { أَدَاءٌ إِلَيْهِ بِإِحْسَانٍ } من غير مطل ولا نقص, ولا إساءة فعلية أو قولية, فهل جزاء الإحسان إليه بالعفو, إلا الإحسان بحسن القضاء، وهذا مأمور به في كل ما ثبت في ذمم الناس للإنسان، مأمور من له الحق بالاتباع بالمعروف، ومن عليه الحق, بالأداء بإحسان وفي قوله: { فَمَنْ عُفِيَ لَهُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ } ترقيق وحث على العفو إلى الدية، وأحسن من ذلك العفو مجانا. وفي قوله: { أَخِيهِ } دليل على أن القاتل لا يكفر, لأن المراد بالأخوة هنا أخوة الإيمان, فلم يخرج بالقتل منها، ومن باب أولى أن سائر المعاصي التي هي دون الكفر, لا يكفر بها فاعلها, وإنما ينقص بذلك إيمانه. وإذا عفا أولياء المقتول, أو عفا بعضهم, احتقن دم القاتل, وصار معصوما منهم ومن غيرهم, ولهذا قال: { فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ } أي: بعد العفو { فَلَهُ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ } أي: في الآخرة، وأما قتله وعدمه, فيؤخذ مما تقدم, لأنه قتل مكافئا له, فيجب قتله بذلك. وأما من فسر العذاب الأليم بالقتل, فإن الآية تدل على أنه يتعين قتله, ولا يجوز العفو عنه, وبذلك قال بعض العلماء والصحيح الأول, لأن جنايته لا تزيد على جناية غيره. ثم بين تعالى حكمته العظيمة في مشروعية القصاص فقال: { وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقِصَاصِ حَيَاةٌ } أي: تنحقن بذلك الدماء, وتنقمع به الأشقياء, لأن من عرف أنه مقتول إذا قتل, لا يكاد يصدر منه القتل, وإذا رئي القاتل مقتولا انذعر بذلك غيره وانزجر, فلو كانت عقوبة القاتل غير القتل, لم يحصل انكفاف الشر, الذي يحصل بالقتل، وهكذا سائر الحدود الشرعية, فيها من النكاية والانزجار, ما يدل على حكمة الحكيم الغفار، ونكَّر \" الحياة \" لإفادة التعظيم والتكثير. ولما كان هذا الحكم, لا يعرف حقيقته, إلا أهل العقول الكاملة والألباب الثقيلة, خصهم بالخطاب دون غيرهم، وهذا يدل على أن الله تعالى, يحب من عباده, أن يعملوا أفكارهم وعقولهم, في تدبر ما في أحكامه من الحكم, والمصالح الدالة على كماله, وكمال حكمته وحمده, وعدله ورحمته الواسعة، وأن من كان بهذه المثابة, فقد استحق المدح بأنه من ذوي الألباب الذين وجه إليهم الخطاب, وناداهم رب الأرباب, وكفى بذلك فضلا وشرفا لقوم يعقلون. وقوله: { لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ } وذلك أن من عرف ربه وعرف ما في دينه وشرعه من الأسرار العظيمة والحكم البديعة والآيات الرفيعة, أوجب له ذلك أن ينقاد لأمر الله, ويعظم معاصيه فيتركها, فيستحق بذلك أن يكون من المتقين.

يقول تعالى كتب عليكم العدل في القصاص أيها المؤمنون حُركم بحركم وعبدكم بعبدكم وأنثاكم بأنثاكم ولا تتجاوزوا وتعتدوا كما اعتدى مَن قبلكم وغيروا حكم الله فيهم وسبب ذلك قريظة والنضير كانت بنو النضير قد غزت قريظة فى الجاهلية وقهروهم فكان إذا قتل النضري القرظي لا يقتل به بل يفادي بمائة وسق من التمر وإذا قتل القرظي النضري قتل وإن فادوه فدوه بمائتي وسق من التمر ضعف دية القرظي فأمر الله بالعدل في القصاص ولا يتبع سبيل المفسدين المحرفين المخالفين لأحكام الله فيهم كفرا وبغيا فقال تعالى "كتب عليكم القصاص في القتلى الحر بالحر والعبد بالعبد والأنثى بالأنثى" وذكر في سبب نزولها ما رواه الإمام أبو محمد بن أبي حاتم حدثنا أبو زرعة حدثنا يحيى بن عبدالله بن بكير حدثني عبدالله بن لهيعه حدثني عطاء بن دينار عن سعيد بن جبير في قول الله "يا أيها الذين آمنوا كتب عليكم القصاص فى القتلى" يعني إذا كان عمدا الحر بالحر وذلك أن حيين من العرب اقتتلوا في الجاهلية قبل الإسلام بقليل فكان بينهم قتل وجراحات حتى قتلوا العبيد والنساء فلم يأخذ بعضهم من بعض حتى أسلموا فكان أحد الحيين يتطاول على الآخر في العدة والأموال فحلفوا أن لا يرضوا حتى يقتل بالعبد منا الحر منهم والمرأة منا الرجل منهم فنزل فيهم "الحر بالحر والعبد بالعبد والأنثى بالأنثى" منها منسوخة نسختها النفس بالنفس: وقال علي بن أبي طلحة عن ابن عباس في قوله "والأنثى بالأنثى" وذلك أنهم كانوا لا يقتلون الرجل بالمرأة ولكن يقتلون الرجل بالرجل والمرأة بالمرأة فأنزل الله "النفس بالنفس والعين بالعين" فجعل الأحرار فى القصاص سواء فيما بينهم من العمد رجالهم ونساؤهم فى النفس وفيما دون النفس وجعل العبيد مستويين فيما بينهم من العمد في النفس وفيما دون النفس رجالهم ونساؤهم وكذلك روي عن أبي مالك أنها منسوخة بقوله النفس بالنفس "مسألة" ذهب أبو حنيفة إلى أن الحر يقتل بالعبد لعموم آية المائدة وإليه ذهب الثوري وابن أبي ليلى وداود وهو مروي عن علي وابن مسعود وسعيد بن المسيب وإبراهيم النخعي وقتادة والحكم قال البخاري وعلي بن المديني وإبراهيم النخعي والثوري فى رواية عنه ويقتل السيد بعبده لعموم حديث الحسن عن سمرة "من قتل عبده قتلناه ومن جدع عبده جدعناه ومن خصاه خصيناه" وخالفهم الجمهور فقالوا لا يقتل الحر بالعبد لأن العبد سلعة لو قتل خطأ لم يجب فيه دية وإنما تجب فيه قيمته ولأنه لا يقاد بطرفه ففي النفس بطريق الأولى وذهب الجمهور إلى أن المسلم لا يقتل بالكافر لما ثبت في البخاري عن علي قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "لا يقتل مسلم بكافر" ولا يصح حديث ولا تأويل يخالف هذا وأما أبو حنيفة فذهب إلى أنه يقتل به لعموم آية المائدة. "مسألة" قال الحسن وعطاء لا يقتل الرجل بالمرأة لهذه الآية وخالفهم الجمهور لآية المائدة ولقوله عليه السلام "المسلمون تتكافأ دماؤهم" وقال الليث إذا قتل الرجل امرأته لا يقتل بها خاصة. "مسألة" ومذهب الأئمة الأربعة والجمهور أن الجماعة يقتلون بالواحد: قال عمر في غلام قتله سبعة فقتلهم وقال لو تمالأ عليه أهل صنعاء لقتلتهم ولا يعرف له في زمانه مخالف من الصحابة وذلك كالإجماع وحكى عن الإمام أحمد رواية أن الجماعة لا يقتلون بالواحد ولا يقتل بالنفس إلا نفس واحدة وحكاه ابن المنذر عن معاذ وابن الزبير وعبدالملك بن مروان والزهري وابن سيرين وحبيب بن أبي ثابت ثم قال: ابن المنذر وهذا أصح ولا حجة لمن أباح قتل الجماعة وقد ثبت عن ابن الزبير ما ذكرناه وإذا اختلف الصحابة فسبيله النظر وقوله "فمن عفي له من أخيه شيء فاتباع بالمعروف وأداء إليه بإحسان" قال مجاهد عن ابن عباس "فمن عفي له من أخيه شيء" فالعفو أن يقبل الدية في العمد وكذا روى عن أبي العالية وأبي الشعثاء ومجاهد وسعيد بن جبير وعطاء والحسن وقتادة ومقاتل بن حيان وقال الضحاك عن ابن عباس "فمن عفي له من أخيه شيء" يعني فمن ترك له من أخيه شيء يعني أخذ الدية بعد استحقاق الدم وذلك العفو "فاتباع بالمعروف" يقول فعلى الطالب اتباع بالمعروف إذا قبل الدية "وأداء إليه بإحسان" يعني من القاتل من غير ضرر ولا معك يعني المدافعة وروى الحاكم من حديث سفيان عن عمرو عن مجاهد عن ابن عباس ويؤدي المطلوب بإحسان وكذا قال: سعيد بن جبير وأبو الشعثاء جابر بن زيد والحسن وقتادة وعطاء الخراساني والربيع بن أنس والسدي ومقاتل بن حيان. "مسألة" قال مالك رحمه الله في رواية ابن القاسم عنه وهو المشهور وأبو حنيفة وأصحابه والشافعي وأحمد في أحد قوليه ليس لولي الدم أن يعفو على الدية إلا برضا القاتل وقال: الباقون له أن يعفو عليها وإن لم يرض. "مسألة" وذهب طائفة من السلف إلى أنه ليس للنساء عفو منهم الحسن وقتادة والزهري وابن شبرمة والليث والأوزاعي وخالفهم الباقون وقوله "ذلك تخفيف من ربكم ورحمة" يقول تعالى إنما شرع لكم أخذ الدية في العمد تخفيفا من الله عليكم ورحمة بكم مما كان محتوما على الأمم قبلكم من القتل أو العفو كما قال: سعيد بن منصور حدثنا سفيان عن عمرو بن دينار أخبرني مجاهد عن ابن عباس قال: كتب على بني إسرائيل القصاص في القتلى ولم يكن فيهم العفو فقال الله لهذه الأمة "كتب عليكم القصاص في القتلى الحر بالحر والعبد بالعبد والأنثى بالأنثى فمن عفي له من أخيه شيء" فالعفو أن يقبل الدية في العمد ذلك تخفيف مما كتب على بني إسرائيل من كان قبلكم "فاتباع بالمعروف وأداء إليه بإحسان" وقد رواه غير واحد عن عمرو وأخرجه ابن حبان في صحيحه عن عمرو بن دينار ورواه جماعة عن مجاهد عن ابن عباس بنحوه: وقال قتادة "ذلك تخفيف من ربكم" رحم الله هذه الأمة وأطعمهم الدية ولم تحل لأحد قبلهم فكان أهل التوراة إنما هو القصاص وعفو ليس بينهم أرش وكان أهل الإنجيل إنما هو عفو أمروا به وجعل لهذه الأمة القصاص والعفو والأرش وهكذا روي عن سعيد بن جبير ومقاتل بن حيان والربيع بن أنس نحو هذا وقوله "فمن اعتدى بعد ذلك فله عذاب أليم" يقول تعالى فمن قتل بعد أخذ الدية أو قبولها فله عذاب من الله أليم موجع شديد وهكذا روي عن ابن عباس ومجاهد وعطاء وعكرمة والحسن وقتادة والربيع بن أنس والسدي ومقاتل بن حيان أنه هو الذي يقتل بعد أخذ الدية كما قال محمد بن إسحاق عن الحارث بن فضيل عن سفيان بن أبي العوجاء عن أبي شريح الخزاعي أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال "من أصيب بقتل أو خبل فإنه يختار إحدى ثلاث إما أن يقتص وإما أن يعفو وإما أن يأخذ الدية فإن أراد الرابعة فخذوا على يديه ومن اعتدى بعد ذلك فله نار جهنم خالدا فيها" رواه أحمد وقال سعيد بن أبى عروبة عن قتادة عن الحسن عن سمرة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "لا أعافي رجلا قتل بعد أخذ الدية" يعني لا أقبل منه الدية بل أقتله.

The Command and the Wisdom behind the Law of Equality

Allah states: O believers! The Law of equality has been ordained on you (for cases of murder), the free for the free, the slave for the slave and the female for the female. Therefore, do not transgress the set limits, as others before you transgressed them, and thus changed what Allah has ordained for them. The reason behind this statement is that (the Jewish tribe of) Banu An-Nadir invaded Qurayzah (another Jewish tribe) during the time of Jahiliyyah (before Islam) and defeated them. Hence, (they made it a law that) when a person from Nadir kills a person from Quraizah, he is not killed in retaliation, but only pays a hundred Wasq of dates. However, when a person from Quraizah kills a Nadir man, he would be killed for him. If Nadir wanted (to forfeit the execution of the murderer and instead require him) to pay a ransom, the Quraizah man pays two hundred Wasq of dates double the amount Nadir pays in Diyah (blood money). So Allah commanded that justice be observed regarding the penal code, and that the path of the misguided and mischievous persons be avoided, who in disbelief and transgression, defy and alter what Allah has commanded them. Allah said:

كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِصَاصُ فِي الْقَتْلَى ۖ الْحُرُّ بِالْحُرِّ وَالْعَبْدُ بِالْعَبْدِ وَالْأُنثَىٰ بِالْأُنثَىٰ ۚ

(Al-Qisas (the Law of equality in punishment) is prescribed for you in case of murder: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female.)

Allah's statement:

الْحُرُّ بِالْحُرِّ وَالْعَبْدُ بِالْعَبْدِ وَالْأُنثَىٰ بِالْأُنثَىٰ ۚ

(the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female.) was abrogated by the statement life for life (5:45). However, the majority of scholars agree that the Muslim is not killed for a disbeliever whom he kills. Al- Bukhari reported that `Ali narrated that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said:

«وَلَا يُقْتَلُ مُسْلِمٌ بِكَافِر»

(The Muslim is not killed for the disbeliever (whom he kills).)

No opinion that opposes this ruling could stand correct, nor is there an authentic Hadith to contradict it. However, Abu Hanifah thought that the Muslim could be killed for a disbeliever, following the general meaning of the Ayah (5:45) in Surat Al-Ma'idah (chapter 5 in the Qur'an).

The Four Imams (Abu Hanifah, Malik, Shafi`i and Ahmad) and the majority of scholars stated that the group is killed for one person whom they murder. `Umar said, about a boy who was killed by seven men, "If all the residents of San`a' (capital of Yemen today) collaborated on killing him, I would kill them all." No opposing opinion was known by the Companions during that time which constitutes a near Ijma` (consensus). There is an opinion attributed to Imam Ahmad that a group of people is not killed for one person whom they kill, and that only one person is killed for one person. Ibn Al-Mundhir also attributed this opinion to Mu`adh, Ibn Az-Zubayr, `Abdul-Malik bin Marwan, Az-Zuhri, Ibn Sirin and Habib bin Abu Thabit. Allah's statement:

فَمَنْ عُفِىَ لَهُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ شَىْءٌ فَاتِّبَاعٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَأَدَآءٌ إِلَيْهِ بِإِحْسَـنٍ

(But if the killer is forgiven by the brother (or the relatives) of the killed (against blood money), then it should be sought in a good manner, and paid to him respectfully.) refers to accepting blood money (by the relatives of the victim in return for pardoning the killer) in cases of intentional murder. This opinion is attributed to Abu Al-`Aliyah, Abu Sha`tha', Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Ata' Al-Hasan, Qatadah and Muqatil bin Hayyan. Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn `Abbas said:

فَمَنْ عُفِىَ لَهُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ شَىْءٌ

(But if the killer is forgiven by the brother (or the relatives) of the killed (against blood money)) means the killer is pardoned by his brother (i.e., the relative of the victim) and accepting the Diyah after capital punishment becomes due (against the killer), this is the `Afw (pardon mentioned in the Ayah)." Allah's statement:

فَاتِّبَاعٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ

(...then it should be sought in a good manner,) means, when the relative agrees to take the blood money, he should collect his rightful dues with kindness:

وَأَدَآءٌ إِلَيْهِ بِإِحْسَـنٍ

( and paid to him respectfully.) means, the killer should accept the terms of settlement without causing further harm or resisting the payment.

Allah's statement:

ذَلِكَ تَخْفِيفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ

(This is an alleviation and a mercy from your Lord.) means the legislation that allows you to accept the blood money for intentional murder is an alleviation and a mercy from your Lord. It lightens what was required from those who were before you, either applying capital punishment or forgiving.

Sa`id bin Mansur reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "The Children of Israel were required to apply the Law of equality in murder cases and were not allowed to offer pardons (in return for blood money). Allah said to this Ummah (the Muslim nation):

كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِصَاصُ فِي الْقَتْلَى ۖ الْحُرُّ بِالْحُرِّ وَالْعَبْدُ بِالْعَبْدِ وَالْأُنثَىٰ بِالْأُنثَىٰ ۚ فَمَنْ عُفِيَ لَهُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ شَيْءٌ

(The Law of equality in punishment is prescribed for you in case of murder: the free for the free, the servant for the servant, and the female for the female. But if the killer is forgiven by the brother (or the relatives) of the killed (against blood money),)

Hence, `pardoning' or `forgiving' means accepting blood money in intentional murder cases." Ibn Hibban also recorded this in his Sahih. Qatadah said:

ذَلِكَ تَخْفِيفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ

(This is an alleviation from your Lord)

Allah had mercy on this Ummah by giving them the Diyah which was not allowed for any nation before it. The People of the Torah (Jews) were allowed to either apply the penal code (for murder, i.e., execution) or to pardon the killer, but they were not allowed to take blood money. The People of the Injil (the Gospel - the Christians) were required to pardon (the killer, but no Diyah was legislated). This Ummah (Muslims) is allowed to apply the penal code (execution) or to pardon and accept the blood money." Similar was reported from Sa`id bin Jubayr, Muqatil bin Hayyan and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas.

Allah's statement:

فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَلَهُ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

(So after this whoever transgresses the limits, he shall have a painful torment.) means, those who kill in retaliation after taking the Diyah or accepting it, they will suffer a painful and severe torment from Allah. The same was reported from Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ata' `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, As-Suddi and Muqatil bin Hayyan.

The Benefits and Wisdom of the Law of Equality

Allah's statement:

وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقِصَاصِ حَيَوةٌ

(And there is life for you in Al-Qisas) legislating the Law of equality, i.e., killing the murderer, carries great benefits for you. This way, the sanctity of life will be preserved because the killer will refrain from killing, as he will be certain that if he kills, he would be killed. Hence life will be preserved. In previous Books, there is a statement that killing stops further killing! This meaning came in much clearer and eloquent terms in the Qur'an:

وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقِصَاصِ حَيَوةٌ

(And there is (a saving of) life for you in Al-Qisas (the Law of equality in punishment).)

Abu Al-`Aliyah said, "Allah made the Law of equality a `life'. Hence, how many a man who thought about killing, but this Law prevented him from killing for fear that he will be killed in turn." Similar statements were reported from Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Malik, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Muqatil bin Hayyan. Allah's statement:

يأُولِي الأَلْبَـبِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

(O men of understanding, that you may acquire Taqwa.) means, `O you who have sound minds, comprehension and understanding! Perhaps by this you will be compelled to refrain from transgressing the prohibitions of Allah and what He considers sinful. ' Taqwa (mentioned in the Ayah) is a word that means doing all acts of obedience and refraining from all prohibitions.

كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ إِن تَرَكَ خَيْرًا الْوَصِيَّةُ لِلْوَلِدَيْنِ وَالاٌّقْرَبِينَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ حَقًّا عَلَى الْمُتَّقِينَ

O you who believe prescribed made obligatory for you is retaliation on equal terms regarding the slain both in the attributes of the one slain and in the action involved; a free man is killed for a free man and not for a slave; and a slave for a slave and a female for a female. The Sunna makes it clear that a male may be killed in retaliation for a female and that religious affiliation should be taken into account also so that a Muslim cannot be killed in return for an disbeliever even if the former be a slave and the latter a free man. But if anything of the blood is pardoned any one of those who have slain in relation to his brother the one slain so that the retaliation is waived the use of the indefinite shay’un ‘anything’ here implies the waiving of retaliation through a partial pardon by the inheritors of the slain; the mention of akhīh ‘his brother’ is intended as a conciliatory entreaty to pardon and a declaration that killing should not sever the bonds of religious brotherhood; the particle man ‘any one’ is the subject of a conditional or a relative clause of which the predicate is the following fa’ittibā‘un let the pursuing that is the action of the one who has pardoned in pursuing the killer be honourable demanding the blood money without force. The fact that the ‘pursuing’ results from the ‘pardoning’ implies that one of the two actions is a duty which is one of al-Shāfi‘ī’s two opinions here. The other opinion is that retaliation is the duty whereas the blood money is merely compensation for non-retaliation so that if one were to pardon but not name his blood money then nothing happens; and this latter is the preferred opinion. And let the payment of the blood money by the slayer to him the pardoner that is the one inheriting from the slain be with kindliness without procrastination or fraud; that stipulation mentioned here about the possibility of retaliation and the forgoing of this in return for blood money is an alleviation a facilitation given to you by your Lord and a mercy for you for He has given you latitude in this matter and has not categorically demanded that one of the said options be followed through in the way that He made it obligatory for Jews to retaliate and for Christians to pardon and accept blood money; and for him who commits aggression by being unjust towards the killer and slaying him after that that is after pardoning — his is a painful chastisement of the Fire in the Hereafter or of being killed in this world.

From the brief introduction to the nature of righteousness appearing in verses before this, the text now enters into the description of related subsidiary injunctions. Under the first injunction in this connection, the verse prescribes the law of Qisas (even retaliation), that is, the killer will be killed, irrespective of the status of the parties involved. If the aggrieved party somewhat relents on its own and forgives the Qisas قصاص ، but does not forgive the offence totally, it will become necessary for the killer to pay diyah (دیۃ) or blood-money as fixed, in a fair manner, and promptly. The claimant too, should pursue the matter in a recognized manner causing no harassment to the defendant. This law of blood-money and pardon is a relief granted by Allah Almighty in His grace, otherwise, there would have been no choice but to face the punishment of death. If, after all that, anyone crosses the limit set by Allah, such as, the filing of a false or doubtful case of murder, or a post-pardon re-opening of a murder case, he will be severely punished. In the end, the verse points out that wise people should have no difficulty in seeing that the law of even retaliation does not take life, instead, it gives life, for such a deterrent law will make people fear the punishment of killing somebody and thus lives will be saved.

There is life in 'Qisas' قصاص

Literally, the word, Qisas means likeness. In usage, it denotes 'even retaliation' or to return like for like. In Islamic juristic terminology, Qisas means the equal retaliation of an aggression committed against the body of a person. This retaliation is allowed only with a condition that the principle of "like for like" is strictly observed. This has been explained more clearly later on in verse 194 of this very Sarah which says:

فَاعْتَدُوا عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ

So, agress against him in the like manner as he did against you.

And also in the concluding verses of Surah al-Nahl, the same rule has been covered:

وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُم بِهِ

And, if you retaliate, then retaliate just as you have been oppressed against. (16:126)

Therefore, as a term of the Shari'ah, the Qisas قصاص is a punishment for killing or wounding in which the principle of equality or likeness is taken into full consideration.

Rulings

1. The principle of even retaliation is applied exclusively in cases of culpable homicide when someone has been killed intentionally with a lethal weapon causing injury and blood-loss.

2. In a homicide of this nature, the killer is killed in even retaliation - free man for a free man, slave for a slave, and female for a female - and similarly, a man for a woman. The mention of 'free man for a free man' and 'female for a female' in this verse refers to a specific event in the background of which it was revealed.

On the authority of Ibn Abi Hatim ؓ 1, Ibn Kathir (رح) has reported that, just before the advent of Islam, war broke out between two tribes. Many men and women, free and slaves, belonging to both, were killed. Their case was still undecided when the Islamic period set in and the two tribes entered the fold of Islam. Now that they were Muslims, they started talking about retaliation for those killed on each side. One of the tribes which was more powerful insisted that they would not agree to anything less than that a free man for their slave and a man for their woman be killed from the other side.

It was to refute this barbaric demand on their part that this verse was revealed. By saying 'free man for a free man, slave for a slave and female for a female' it is intended to negate their absurd demand that a free man for a slave and man for a woman should be killed in retaliation, even though he may not be the killer. The just law that Islam enforced was that the killer is the one who has to be killed in Qisas قصاص . If a woman is the killer why should an innocent man be killed in retaliation? Similarly, if the killer is a slave, there is no sense in retaliating against an innocent free man. This is an injustice which can never be tolerated in Islam.

This verse means nothing but what has been stated earlier, and we repeat, that the one who has killed will be the one to be killed in Qisas قصاص . It is not permissible to kill an innocent man or someone free for a killer, woman or slave. Let us hasten to clarify that the verse does not mean that Qisas قصاص will not be taken from a man who kills a woman or from a free man who kills a slave. In the very beginning of this verse the words الْقِصَاصُ فِي الْقَتْلَى: "The Qisas قصاص has been enjoined upon you in the case of those murdered" are a clear proof of this universality of application. There are other verses where this aspect has been stated more explicitly, for instance, in النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ (the person for the person).

3. If, in a case of intentional killing the murderer is given full pardon, for instance, should both of the two surviving sons of the deceased pardon and forego their right of retaliation, the killer is free of any claim against him. In case the pardon is not that full, for instance, as illustrated above, one of the two surviving sons does pardon the killer while the other does not, the result will be that the killer will stand released right there from the retaliatory punishment, but the one who has not pardoned the killer will be entitled to half of the blood-money (diyah). In Shari'ah, this diyah amounts to one hundred camels or one thousand dinars or ten thousand dirhams درھم or approximately nineteen pounds of silver according to current weights and measures.

4. The way an incomplete pardon makes payment of blood-money necessary, in the same manner, a mutual settlement between parties concerned on a certain amount makes retaliation inapplicable and payment of the agreed amount becomes necessary. This, however, is governed by some conditions which appear in books of fiqh فقہ .

5. Under the Islamic law, the inheritors of the person killed, whatever their number, will inherit and own the right of retaliation and blood-money in accordance with their share in the inheritance. If blood-money is taken, it will be distributed among the inheritors in accordance with their share in the inheritance. And should Qisas قصاص (even retaliation) become the choice, the right of Qisas قصاص will also be commonly shared by all. Since Qisas is indivisible, the pardon given by any one of the inheritors will hold good and the pardon will become inclusive of the right of retaliation held by other inheritors. However, they shall receive the blood-money amount according to their share.

6. It is true that the right of even retaliation is vested in the legal heirs of the persons killed but, in accordance with the consensus of the Muslim community, they do not have the right to settle the score all by themselves, in other words, they cannot kill the killer on their own, instead, they have to seek the help of a Muslim ruler or his deputy to realize their right. The reason is that Qisas قصاص is an intricate issue when it comes to details which are simply out of reach for an average person. Therefore, the legal heirs of the person killed, not knowing the particular circumstances when retaliation does, or does not become necessary, may commit some sort of excess under the heat of their anger. So, by a unanimous agreement of the scholars of the Muslim community, it is necessary that the right of retaliation be secured and made effective through the agency of an Islamic government. (Qurtubi)

O you who have faith! Written for you is retaliation in the case of the slain. He is addressing the body, heart, and spirit and saying, “O totality of the servant! If you want to step into the street of friendship, first detach your heart from life and toss away everything you know about states and deeds, for in the shariah of friendship your life will be taken as retaliation, and everything you know will be the wergild, though more is needed. Such is the shariah of friend- ship. If you are the man for the work, enter! Otherwise, nothing will get done with self-love and defilement.” In the tracks of manliness plane trees live long, in the tracks of defilement jasmine goes fast. Throw away your life, travel the road, live upright, and be a man! Then you will subsist-when you empty your skirt of these ruins. Yes, it's a marvelous work, the work of friendship! It's a wonderful shariah, the shariah of friend- ship! Whenever someone is killed in the world, retaliation or wergild is mandatory against the killer. In the shariah of friendship, both retaliation and wergild are mandatory for the person killed. The Pir of the Tariqah, “How should I have known that there is retaliation for those killed by friendship? But, when I looked, that was Your transaction with the elect. How should I have known that friendship is sheer resurrection and that those killed by friendship should ask for wer- gild? Glory be to God! What work is this, what work!? He burns some people, He kills some people, and no one burned has regrets, no one killed turns away.” How You kill us and how we love You! O marvel! How we love the killer! * May my eyes' light be the dust beneath Your feet! May my heart's rest be Your curly locks! In passion for You, may my justice be Your cruelty! May my life be sacrificed in grief for You! One person is burnt and left unsettled, another slain and perplexed in the field of solitariness. One is hanging on reports, another mixed with face-to-face vision. Who planted these seeds? Who stirred up this tumult? One is in a whirlpool, another wishing for water, but the drowned is not sated, the thirsty has no sleep.