سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 45
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﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it shall be for him an expiation. And whosoever does not judge by that which Allâh has revealed, such are the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers - of a lesser degree).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَكَتَبْنَا
wakatabnā
And We ordained
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
for them
فِيهَآ
fīhā
in it
أَنَّ
anna
that
ٱلنَّفْسَ
l-nafsa
the life
بِٱلنَّفْسِ
bil-nafsi
for the life
وَٱلْعَيْنَ
wal-ʿayna
and the eye
بِٱلْعَيْنِ
bil-ʿayni
for the eye
وَٱلْأَنفَ
wal-anfa
and the nose
بِٱلْأَنفِ
bil-anfi
for the nose
وَٱلْأُذُنَ
wal-udhuna
and the ear
بِٱلْأُذُنِ
bil-udhuni
for the ear
وَٱلسِّنَّ
wal-sina
and the tooth
بِٱلسِّنِّ
bil-sini
for the tooth
وَٱلْجُرُوحَ
wal-jurūḥa
and (for) wounds
قِصَاصٌۭ ۚ
qiṣāṣun
(is) retribution
فَمَن
faman
But whoever
تَصَدَّقَ
taṣaddaqa
gives charity
بِهِۦ
bihi
with it
فَهُوَ
fahuwa
then it is
كَفَّارَةٌۭ
kaffāratun
an expiation
لَّهُۥ ۚ
lahu
for him
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
لَّمْ
lam
(does) not
يَحْكُم
yaḥkum
judge
بِمَآ
bimā
by what
أَنزَلَ
anzala
has revealed
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
fa-ulāika
then those
هُمُ
humu
[they]
ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
l-ẓālimūna
(are) the wrongdoers
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.
45. 1. When the command of retribution for life for life and for wounds was given in the Torah, then what justification is there for one tribe of the Jews (Banu Nadir) to act contrary to this with another tribe (Banu Qurayzah) and to set the blood money for their own slain as double compared to the slain of the other tribe? As its details have passed in the previous pages.
45. 2. This is an indication towards the fact that the decision made by the mentioned tribe was against the command revealed by Allah, and in this way, they committed oppression. Thus, a person is obligated to adopt the commands of Allah, make decisions accordingly, and seek guidance from them in all matters of life. If he does not do so, he will be considered an oppressor, a transgressor, and a disbeliever in the court of Allah. For such people, Allah Almighty has used all three words to fully express His anger and displeasure. Even after this, if a person gives importance to his own self-made laws or his own desires, then what could be more unfortunate than this?
45. 2. This is an indication towards the fact that the decision made by the mentioned tribe was against the command revealed by Allah, and in this way, they committed oppression. Thus, a person is obligated to adopt the commands of Allah, make decisions accordingly, and seek guidance from them in all matters of life. If he does not do so, he will be considered an oppressor, a transgressor, and a disbeliever in the court of Allah. For such people, Allah Almighty has used all three words to fully express His anger and displeasure. Even after this, if a person gives importance to his own self-made laws or his own desires, then what could be more unfortunate than this?
