وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَآ أَنَّ ٱلنَّفْسَ بِٱلنَّفْسِ وَٱلْعَيْنَ بِٱلْعَيْنِ وَٱلْأَنفَ بِٱلْأَنفِ وَٱلْأُذُنَ بِٱلْأُذُنِ وَٱلسِّنَّ بِٱلسِّنِّ وَٱلْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ ۚ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِۦ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ 45
Translations
And We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution. But whoever gives [up his right as] charity, it is an expiation for him. And whoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed - then it is those who are the wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust].
Transliteration
Wa katabna 'alayhim feeha anna an-nafsa bi-an-nafsi wa-al-'aina bi-al-'ayni wa-al-anfa bi-al-anfi wa-al-udhuna bi-al-udhuni wa-as-sinna bi-as-sinni wa-al-jurooha qisasun. Faman tasaddaqa bihi fahuwa kaffaratun lahu. Wa man lam yahkum bima anzala Allahu fa-ula'ika humu adh-dhalimun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the principle of Qisas (just retaliation) prescribed in the Torah for the Children of Israel, stipulating equivalence in retribution for injuries: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, and other injuries in kind. However, the ayah emphasizes the merciful option of forgiveness and compensation as an expiation of sins for the victim who chooses clemency. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this verse also condemns those who reject Allah's prescribed law in favor of their own desires, categorizing them among the oppressors (dhalimuun).
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Ma'idah, revealed in Medina during the later Meccan period, addressing the Muslim community's legal and ethical responsibilities. The verse references the Torah's law of retaliation, contextualizing Islamic jurisprudence within the Abrahamic legal tradition while emphasizing the superiority of mercy and forgiveness as higher moral virtues.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever shows mercy will be shown mercy by Allah. Show mercy to those on earth, and the One in the heavens will show mercy to you.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1924). Additionally, the principle of Qisas is detailed in hadith collections regarding the rights of the victim and the conditions for its application (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Diyat).
Themes
Key Lesson
While justice demands accountability for wrongdoing, Islam elevates mercy and forgiveness as a path to spiritual purification and divine favor. Believers are encouraged to seek justice through the legal system while recognizing that pardoning others—especially when they have wronged us—is a noble act that brings us closer to Allah's attributes of mercy.
Related Ayahs
وَكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ حَلَـٰلًا طَيِّبًا ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنتُم بِهِۦ مُؤْمِنُونَ
And eat of what Allāh has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And fear Allāh, in whom you are believers.
۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ ٱلْيَهُودَ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۘ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allāh guides not the wrongdoing people.
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُمْ رَٰكِعُونَ
Your ally is none but Allāh and [therefore] His Messenger and those who have believed - those who establish prayer and give zakāh, and they bow [in worship].
إِن تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ ۖ وَإِن تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise."