Surah Al-Furqaan (25) — Ayah 68

(Ayah 68) ➊ { وَ الَّذِيْنَ لَا يَدْعُوْنَ مَعَ اللّٰهِ اِلٰهًا اٰخَرَ :} This is another category of the attributes of the servants of the Most Merciful, that is, being free from those evils and basenesses which are found among the polytheists, and the servants of the Most Merciful are protected from them due to faith. Here, mention is made of their abstaining from three major evils: shirk (associating partners with Allah), unjust killing, and adultery. Although there are many other major sins, at that time in Arab society, these three sins were most prevalent, so this characteristic of the Muslims was highlighted. This also serves as a rebuke to the polytheists, as they are involved in such prominent evils whose wickedness is clear to every sound mind.
➋ { وَ لَا يَقْتُلُوْنَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِيْ حَرَّمَ اللّٰهُ :} What is meant is every human life, because the killing of any human life has been made unlawful by Allah.
➌ { اِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ:} Such as life for life, stoning of a married adulterer, killing of an apostate, killing a disbeliever in war, and killing a Muslim or non-Muslim who is at war (muharib); all these cases fall under {’’ اِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ‘‘}. These three sins are also mentioned in the same order in a hadith. It is narrated from Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked: “Which sin is the greatest?” He said: “That you associate a partner with Allah, while He alone created you.” The questioner asked: “Then which?” He said: “That you kill your child out of fear that he will share food with you.” He asked: “Then which?” He said: “That you commit adultery with your neighbor’s wife with her consent.” So Allah revealed this verse in confirmation of it: «{ وَ الَّذِيْنَ لَا يَدْعُوْنَ مَعَ اللّٰهِ اِلٰهًا اٰخَرَ }» [ الفرقان : ۶۸ ] [ بخاری، الأدب، باب قتل الولد … : ۶۰۰۱ ]
➍ { وَ مَنْ يَّفْعَلْ ذٰلِكَ يَلْقَ اَثَامًا : ’’ اَثَامًا ‘‘ ’’إِثْمٌ‘‘} With the addition of the alif, the meaning is intensified: “a severe sin.” Its meaning also includes the punishment for the sin, that is, he will receive the punishment for a severe sin. In Ibn Kathir, it is mentioned that Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: “Atham is a valley in Hell.” Dr. Hikmat bin Basheer said: “It has been narrated by Tabari with an authentic chain.”

68-1. And there are three cases for killing with justice: after accepting Islam, if someone reverts to disbelief, which is called apostasy; or if someone, being married, commits adultery; or if someone kills another person. In these cases, the person will be killed.

68-2. It is mentioned in the hadith: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, "Which sin is the greatest?" He replied, "That you associate someone with Allah, while He created you." He asked, "After that, which sin is greatest?" He replied, "That you kill your child out of fear that he will eat with you." He asked, "Then which one?" He replied, "That you commit adultery with your neighbor's wife." Then he said that these matters are confirmed by this verse. Then he recited this very verse (al-Bukhari, Tafsir Surah al-Baqarah).

68. And those who do not call upon any other god besides Allah, nor kill a soul which Allah has forbidden—except by right—nor commit adultery [85]; and whoever does that shall meet the penalty.

[85]
The Prevalence of Shirk, Unjust Killing, and Adultery in Arab Society and Abstaining from These Acts:

In this verse, Allah Almighty has mentioned these three major sins in which the Arab society of that era was deeply involved. Every tribe had its own separate idol. Then, one large idol would also be shared among several tribes. The custodians of the Sacred House (Baytullah) had filled the House of Allah—which was founded upon the principle of Tawheed—with three hundred and sixty idols. Throughout Arabia, looting and bloodshed were their favorite pastime. Furthermore, if an enemy of any tribe was killed, it meant that war would break out between the two tribes for years on end. Such wars had devastated entire families. Drinking alcohol and adultery were ingrained in their nature. They did not consider adultery to be a shameful act; rather, their writers and poets would proudly recount their acts of adultery and mention their beloveds at festivals. To the extent that two idols were placed on the hills of Safa and Marwah, named Isaf and Na’ilah. These two were, in fact, an adulterous man and woman who had committed adultery in the Sacred Sanctuary of the Ka’bah. It was famous about them that Allah Almighty had turned them into stone as punishment for this crime. Later people placed these stones on Safa and Marwah and began to worship them. From this, it can be inferred whether adultery was even considered a sin among them or not. Then, another form of unjust killing was prevalent among them, which was the burying alive of daughters (which has already been discussed in detail). Allah Almighty, while describing the qualities of His servants, stated that they remain safe from these severe crimes in which the Arab society was deeply entangled.