It is important to know that all innocent lives are equal in islam.
There is no difference between the rich and the poor, the man and the woman,
the free and the slave. All are equal in the eyes of Allah Almighty.
There is no difference between the rich and the poor, the man and the woman,
the free and the slave. All are equal in the eyes of Allah Almighty.
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“…if any one slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the
land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would
be as if he saved the life of the whole people…” Quran 5:32
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“It was We who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light.
By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam)
to Allah.s will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the
protection of Allah.s book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men,
but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by
(the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers.
We ordained therein for them: “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. And if any fail to judge by
(the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (No better than) wrong-doers. And
in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come
before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and
confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to
those who fear Allah. Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed
therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no
better than) those who rebel. “ Quran 5:44-48
confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to
those who fear Allah. Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed
therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no
better than) those who rebel. “ Quran 5:44-48
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Say, “Come let me tell you what your Lord has really prohibited for you: You shall not set up idols besides Him. You shall honor your parents. You shall not kill your children from fear of poverty―we provide for you and for them. You shall not commit gross sins, obvious or hidden. You shall not kill―GOD has made life sacred―except in the course of justice. These are His commandments to you, that
you may understand.” Quran 6:151
you may understand.” Quran 6:151
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“You shall not kill any person―for GOD has made life sacred―except in the course of justice. If one is killed unjustly, then we give his heir authority to enforce justice. Thus, he shall not exceed the limits in avenging the murder, he will be helped.”
Quran 17:33
Quran 17:33
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“Those who invoke not, with God, any other god, nor slay such life as God has made sacred except for just cause, nor commit fornication; – and any that does this (not only) meets punishment. (But) the Penalty on the Day Of Judgement will be doubled
To him, and he will dwell Therein in ignominy. “ Quran 25:68-69
To him, and he will dwell Therein in ignominy. “ Quran 25:68-69
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Here the above Noble Verses, we see that if you kill one innocent soul (whether it was
a Muslim soul or not), then it is like committing a crime against all people.
We also see that Allah Almighty considers the innocent soul as a “sacred” soul.
a Muslim soul or not), then it is like committing a crime against all people.
We also see that Allah Almighty considers the innocent soul as a “sacred” soul.
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Notice that Allah Almighty will double the punishment for those who commit murders
against any innocent souls.
against any innocent souls.
The Major Commandments
Quran 6:151 Say, “Come let me tell you what your Lord has really prohibited for you:
You shall not set up idols besides Him.
You shall honor your parents.
You shall not kill your children from fear of poverty―we provide for you and for
them.
You shall not commit gross sins, obvious or hidden.
You shall not kill―GOD has made life sacred―except in the course of justice.
These are His commandments to you, that you may understand.”
While the Quran generally discourages capital punishment (2:178), murder is one of the few instances in which capital punishment is permitted.
The verse after 5:32, we see an explanation of when capital punishment may be
permitted.
Discouraging Capital Punishment*
Quran 2:178 “O you who believe, equivalence is the law decreed for you when dealing with murder―the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the female for the female. If
one is pardoned by the victim’s kin, an appreciative response is in order, and an
equitable compensation shall be paid. This is an alleviation from your Lord and
mercy. Anyone who transgresses beyond this incurs a painful retribution.”
one is pardoned by the victim’s kin, an appreciative response is in order, and an
equitable compensation shall be paid. This is an alleviation from your Lord and
mercy. Anyone who transgresses beyond this incurs a painful retribution.”
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Capital Punishment: When is it Justified?
Quran 5:33 “The just retribution for those who fight GOD and His messenger, and commit horrendous crimes, is to be killed, or crucified, or to have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or to be banished from the land. This is to humiliate
them in this life, then they suffer a far worse retribution in the Hereafter.”
them in this life, then they suffer a far worse retribution in the Hereafter.”
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*2:178 The Quran clearly discourages capital punishment. Every kind of excuse is provided to spare lives, including the life of the murderer. The victim’s kin may find it better, under certain circumstances, to spare the life of the murderer in exchange for an equitable compensation. Also capital punishment.
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To conclude, while capital punishment is discouraged in Quran, in certain cases it serves justice. When an individual who fights God and His messenger, and commits horrendous crimes is involved, God tells us in Quran 5:33 that capital punishment is justified.
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Thus, the operation to kill Bin Laden, is not against God’s law in Quran, and it is in the cause of justice from a Submission-related (Islamic) perspective.
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The laws of murder in Islam:
Let us look at what Allah Almighty said in the Noble Quran:
Quran 2:178 “O ye who believe! the law of equality is prescribed to you in cases of murder: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the woman for the woman. But if any remission is made by the brother of the slain, then grant any reasonable demand, and compensate him with handsome gratitude, this is a concession and a Mercy from your Lord. After this whoever exceeds the limits shall be in grave penalty.”
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Quran 2:179 “Equivalence is a life saving law for you, O you who possess intelligence, that you may be righteous.
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We clearly see that Allah Almighty used to punish to death those who commit intentional murders among the People of Israel. This law is still effective in Islam, and killing the murderer is still a valid law in Islam, but there is however another alternative for punishment, and that is accepting by choice the blood money.
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If the relatives of the slain person wish to have an open and forgiving heart, then they can forgive the murderer under the condition that he compensate them with money for their slain son or relative. The demand should be reasonable.
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If the relatives do not wish to forgive the murderer, then he is to get executed by the Islamic ruling authority.
If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers. We ordained therein for them: “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. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (No better than) wrong-doers. Quran 5:44-48
Quranic Truth 