Qiṣāṣ Cannot Be Taken Before the Wound Heals
Author: Imran Ayub Lahori
❖ Ruling
Qiṣāṣ (retaliation) for wounds is not carried out before the wound has healed.
❖ Evidence
A man injured another by thrusting a horn into his knee. The injured person came to the Prophet ﷺ and requested qiṣāṣ. The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“Come back after the wound heals.”
- The man later returned, insisting on qiṣāṣ.
- The Prophet ﷺ allowed him to take it.
- Afterwards, the man came again complaining: “O Messenger of Allah! I have become lame.”
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
“I forbade you, but you did not listen. Allah has cast you far away, and your lameness is wasted.”
Then it was reported:
«نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يقتص عن جرح حتى يبرأ صاحبه»
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade retaliation for wounds until the injured has recovered.”
[Aḥmad 2/217; al-Dāraquṭnī 3/88; al-Bayhaqī 8/47]
❖ Conclusion
- Qiṣāṣ in wounds must be delayed until full healing.
- If carried out earlier, there is risk of excess harm (e.g., permanent disability).
- The Prophet ﷺ explicitly forbade retaliation before recovery.
