سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 33
وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَمَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِيِّهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا فَلَا يُسْرِف فِّى ٱلْقَتْلِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ مَنصُورًا ﴿33﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And do not kill anyone whose killing Allâh has forbidden, except for a just cause. And whoever is killed wrongfully (Mazlûman intentionally with hostility and oppression and not by mistake), We have given his heir the authority [to demand Qisâs, - Law of Equality in punishment - or to forgive, or to take Diyah (blood money)]. But let him not exceed limits in the matter of taking life (i.e he should not kill except the killer). Verily, he is helped (by the Islâmic law).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَقْتُلُوا۟
taqtulū
kill
ٱلنَّفْسَ
l-nafsa
the soul
ٱلَّتِى
allatī
which
حَرَّمَ
ḥarrama
Allah has forbidden
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah has forbidden
إِلَّا
illā
except
بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ
bil-ḥaqi
by right
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
قُتِلَ
qutila
(is) killed
مَظْلُومًۭا
maẓlūman
wrongfully
فَقَدْ
faqad
verily
جَعَلْنَا
jaʿalnā
We have made
لِوَلِيِّهِۦ
liwaliyyihi
for his heir
سُلْطَـٰنًۭا
sul'ṭānan
an authority
فَلَا
falā
but not
يُسْرِف
yus'rif
he should exceed
فِّى
fī
in
ٱلْقَتْلِ ۖ
l-qatli
the killing
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, he
كَانَ
kāna
is
مَنصُورًۭا
manṣūran
helped
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
33. 1. The meaning of killing with justice is to kill in retribution (qisas), which has been declared as a cause for the life and peace of human society. Similarly, there is a command to kill a married adulterer and an apostate.
33. 2. That is, the heirs of the murdered person have been given the right, dominance, or power that after the Shari'ah-based decision of the ruler of the time, they may kill the murderer in retribution, or take blood money from him, or forgive him. And if they choose to take retribution, then they should not exceed the limits by killing two or three or four in exchange for one, or by mutilating or torturing the murderer before killing him. The next of kin of the murdered person has been given help, meaning the authorities and rulers have been instructed to help him, therefore he should thank Allah for this and not commit excess and thus be ungrateful to Allah.
33. 2. That is, the heirs of the murdered person have been given the right, dominance, or power that after the Shari'ah-based decision of the ruler of the time, they may kill the murderer in retribution, or take blood money from him, or forgive him. And if they choose to take retribution, then they should not exceed the limits by killing two or three or four in exchange for one, or by mutilating or torturing the murderer before killing him. The next of kin of the murdered person has been given help, meaning the authorities and rulers have been instructed to help him, therefore he should thank Allah for this and not commit excess and thus be ungrateful to Allah.
