If Anyone Slays a Person (Qur'an 5:32)

This article takes a closer look at the Qur'anic verse 5:32 and the definition of "Mischief" in Islam.

Introduction

Many Muslims, and non-Muslims alike, will present you with the following verse, which they claim appears in the Qur'an and denounces killing and equates the slaying of one human life to that of genocide against the entirety of mankind.

This verse (along with the "No Compulsion" verse) is one of the most often-quoted verses purportedly taken from the Qur'an, thus proving the incompatibility of Islam with all forms of terrorism. For example; this verse has made appearances on (among others) The American Muslim^[1] CNN,^[2] and Wisdom Today^[3] websites, and was quoted by Congressman Keith Ellison on the "Real Time With Bill Maher" TV show.^[4]

This verse has become so popular among the Islamic apologists and sympathizers that the President of the United States, Barack Obama, even quotes it in his speech delivered at Cairo University in June 4, 2009.^[5] Visiting the countless pro-Islamic websites, forums and blogs on the net, you are almost guaranteed to be confronted with this verse.

But try as you might, you will not find it in a Qur'an, regardless of whether or not you're reading it in its original Arabic or in one of its many English translations. The reason for this is quite simple: the verse in question does not exist.

What you are actually presented with by Muslims is a distorted, out-of-context and wholly misleading paraphrasing of the following verse:

Analysis of Verse 5:32

Its Context

Firstly, this verse is written in past tense (Ordained, not Ordain) and clearly does not apply to Muslims but to "the Children of Israel" i.e. the Jews who, according to Islam, recieved an earlier set of scriptures. In fact, it's mistakingly referencing a rabbinical commentary found in the Talmud as if it were the words of God.

Secondly, when the clause which allows killing is reinserted and we read it in context with the following two verses directed at Muslims (notice the reference to Allah's messenger and the switch to present tense), what first appeared on the surface to be a peaceful message, is in actual fact a chilling warning to non-believers:

Its Application to Muslims

According to the highly respected Qur'anic exegesis of Ibn Kathir- early qur'anic commentator and Tabi'un, Sayid ibn Jubayr (who lived at the time of Muhammad, and was a companion of Aisha), had said:

Also reported by another Tabi'un and commentator of the Qur'an, Mujahid ibn Jabr (a student of Ibn Abbas; a paternal cousin of Muhammad) while commenting on verse 5:32:

Being a companion of Muhammad, Ibn Abbas was present around the time these verses were revealed. Together with ibn Jabr, he went through the Qur'an thirty times and memorised the meanings. Muslim scholars consider ibn Jabr to have the highest reliability.^[6]

The Worth of a Non-Believer

We now know that verse 5:32 is not condemning the killing of a non-Muslim, and that a Muslim must not murder another Muslim, but what of the non-believers? What is the worth of their lives? According to sahih hadith, Muhammad said the life of a non-Muslim is not sacred:

Furthermore, Muhammad also gave the verdict (fatwa) that a Muslim can not be killed for killing a non-Muslim.

Narrated Abu Juhaifa:

The vast majority of Muslim scholars hold this view, while others believe that a Muslim can be killed if he kills a non-Muslim Dhimmi who is under the "protection" of the Islamic community.^[7][8]

The Meaning of "Mischief"

The Qur'an is extremely vague in what actions deserve such harsh punishments as execution, crucifixion, the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land.

Putting aside the fact that no Muslim is allowed to be killed for the killing of a non-Muslim, "Murder" is quite straight forward, but what does it mean to "spread mischief"?

In the Tafsir ibn Kathir, Qatada, one of Muhammad's companions, explained the definition of "Mischief" according to Islam:

In the Tafsir ibn Abbas:

In the Tafsir al-Jalalayn, by al-Suyuti, we find the following commentary:

This correct understanding of what constitutes 'mischief' in Islam, is easily confirmed by looking to other verses found within the Qur'an. Verse 7:103, for example:

Clearly "mischief" which is also equated to "waging war against Allah and His Messenger" in the very next verse, can and does apply to someone who simply refuses to accept Islam. So what was first offered to us as the hight of moral teachings found in the Qur'an, turns out to be an extremely intolerant call to violence.

On the 20^th of July, following the 7/7 terrorist attacks on London, Islamic cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed publicly stated "I condemn the killing of innocent people." only to be secretly recorded by an undercover reporter for the Sunday Times explaining two days later "Yes I condemn killing any innocent people, but not any kuffar."

One of his followers, Islamic preacher Anjem Choudary, also explained in a BBC interview "when we [Muslims] say 'innocent people' we mean 'Muslims'. As far as non-Muslims are concerned, they have not accepted Islam. As far as we are concerned, that is a crime against God."^[9]

Conclusion

In this instance, as in many others, it is Muslims and their apologists, not the skeptics, who are misinterpreting verses and quoting them out of context. A simple reading of the verse and those that surround it makes this blatantly clear.

In the Islamic world, those who dare propagate their non-Islamic faiths or publicly criticize Islam are usually executed or imprisoned by their governments, under laws against "spreading disorder [mischief] through the land" and apostasy.

If verse 5:32 means what Western apologists claim it to mean, why are they so reluctant to quote the verse accurately rather than presenting a misleading paraphrasing of what they wished the verse had said? Furthermore, why are moderate Muslims and apologists unable to silence fellow Muslims on an interlectual level by using that very verse?

They are unable to because their claim is false, and (as proven by Omar Bakri) anyone who is familiar with the Qur'an already knows this.

See Also

• Mischief - A hub page that leads to other articles related to Mischief
• Misinterpreted Verses - A hub page that leads to other articles related to Misinterpreted Verses

External Links

• Fort Hood in light of the Quran: An Open Letter To CNN - Answering Islam
• Can Infidels be Innocents? - Daniel Pipes
• How Obama Misinterprets Quran 5:32 and Passes a Noble Jewish Teaching as Islamic - Islam Watch

video

• Killing of Non-Muslims is Legitimate - Anjem Choudary on HardTalk
• Does Qur'an 5:32 Forbid Killing? (A Response to CNN and Arsalan Iftikhar on the Fort Hood Massacre)

References