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45
وَكَتَبنا عَلَيهِم فيها أَنَّ النَّفسَ بِالنَّفسِ وَالعَينَ بِالعَينِ وَالأَنفَ بِالأَنفِ وَالأُذُنَ بِالأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ وَالجُروحَ قِصاصٌ ۚ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفّارَةٌ لَهُ ۚ وَمَن لَم يَحكُم بِما أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولٰئِكَ هُمُ الظّالِمونَ

Yusuf Ali

We ordained therein for them1: “Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal.” But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself.2 And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what God hath revealed, they are (No better than) wrongdoers3.
  • The retaliation is prescribed in three places in the Pentateuch, viz., Exod. 21:23-25; Leviticus 24:18-21, and Deut. 19:21. The wording in the three quotations is different, but in none of them is found the additional rider for mercy, as here. Note that in Matt. 5:38, Jesus quotes the Old Law “eye for eye.” etc., and modifies it in the direction of forgiveness, but the Qur-ānic injunction is more practical. This appeal for mercy is as between man and man in the spiritual world. Even where the injured one forgives, the State or Ruler is competent to take such action as is necessary for the preservation of law and order in Society. For crime has a bearing that goes beyond the interests of the person injured: the Community is affected: see 5:32.
  • This is not part of the Mosaic Law, but the teaching of Jesus and of Muḥammad. Notice how the teaching of Jesus is gradually introduced as leading up to the Qur-ān
  • The seeming repetitions at the end of verses 44, 45 and 47 are not real repetitions. The significant words in the three cases are: Unbelievers, wrongdoers, and rebellious: and each fits the context. If the Jews tamper with their books they are Unbelievers; if they give false judgments, they are wrongdoers. If the Christians follow not their light, they are rebellious.