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
تَرَىٰ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لَهُمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ أَن سَخِطَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَفِى ٱلْعَذَابِ هُمْ خَـٰلِدُونَ
You see many of them becoming allies of those who disbelieved [i.e., the polytheists]. How wretched is that which they have put forth for themselves in that Allāh has become angry with them, and in the punishment they will abide eternally.
وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم بِعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلْإِنجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدًى وَنُورٌ وَمُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَسْتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰ تُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۗ وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم مَّآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَـٰنًا وَكُفْرًا ۖ فَلَا تَأْسَ عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Say, "O People of the Scripture, you are [standing] on nothing until you uphold [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord [i.e., the Qur’ān]." And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord will surely increase many of them in transgression and disbelief. So do not grieve over the disbelieving people.
وَأَنِ ٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ وَٱحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَنۢ بَعْضِ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُصِيبَهُم بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَفَـٰسِقُونَ
And judge, [O Muḥammad], between them by what Allāh has revealed and do not follow their inclinations and beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allāh has revealed to you. And if they turn away - then know that Allāh only intends to afflict them with some of their [own] sins. And indeed, many among the people are defiantly disobedient.