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

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

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[[File:Quran 5-32.png|290px|right|thumb]]
[[File:Quran 5-32.png|290px|right|thumb]]


The [[Qur'an|Qur'anic]] verse 5:32 claims that [[Allah]] "decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely" (a concept lifted from the Jewish Talmud). The verse is one of the evidences often cited by [[dawah|duaah]] in the wake of Islamic terrorist attacks and massacres as proof that the Qur'an forbids such senseless slaughter. Sometimes these apologetic claims misquote the verse or leave out the context of the entire passage and also its implications in Islamic law for dissidents in an Islamic State who do not want to abide by the strictures of [[Shari'ah (Islamic Law)]].  
The [[Qur'an|Qur'anic]] verse 5:32 claims that [[Allah]] "decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely" (a concept lifted from the Jewish Talmud). The verse is one of the evidences often cited by [[dawah|duaah]] in the wake of Islamic terrorist attacks and massacres as proof that the Qur'an forbids such senseless slaughter. While there is [[Qur'an,_Hadith_and_Scholars:Offensive_Jihad#Islamic_law_regarding_non-combatants|consensus in Islamic law against the killing of non-combatant women and children]] and such acts are frequently condemned by traditional scholars, sometimes apologetic claims misquote this particular verse or leave out the context of the entire passage and also its implications in Islamic law for dissidents in an Islamic State who do not want to abide by the strictures of [[Shari'ah (Islamic Law)]].


Michael Pregill notes the common ecumenical usage of verse 32 in popular discourse, then observes "But reading the convergence of Mishnah and Qur'an as a specimen of pre-modern ecumenism is clearly anachronistic if we conflate it with or project it onto the historical milieu that the Qur'an was revealed to address. Rather, given the overarching thrust of the surah, we must conclude that the rabbinic precursor has been deliberately appropriated and its major themes strategically reconstrued to propel a more strident, if not openly militant, message."<ref name="Pregill2021">Pregill, Michael. ''The Two Sons of Adam: Rabinnic resonances and scriptural virtuosity in surat al-Ma'idah.'' Journal of the International Quranic Studies Association. 6 (2021): 167-224 (see pp. 205-207)</ref>
Michael Pregill notes the common ecumenical usage of verse 32 in popular discourse, then observes "But reading the convergence of Mishnah and Qur'an as a specimen of pre-modern ecumenism is clearly anachronistic if we conflate it with or project it onto the historical milieu that the Qur'an was revealed to address. Rather, given the overarching thrust of the surah, we must conclude that the rabbinic precursor has been deliberately appropriated and its major themes strategically reconstrued to propel a more strident, if not openly militant, message."<ref name="Pregill2021">Pregill, Michael. ''The Two Sons of Adam: Rabinnic resonances and scriptural virtuosity in surat al-Ma'idah.'' Journal of the International Quranic Studies Association. 6 (2021): 167-224 (see pp. 205-207)</ref>
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{{Quote|{{Quran|5|32}}|On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that 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. Then although there came to them Our messengers with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|5|32}}|On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that 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. Then although there came to them Our messengers with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.}}


Although this verse often cited to the effect that Islam as a religion categorically forbids killing (particularly in the name of the relgion), in addition to the entirety of the verse itself it is instructive to look at the verse in context:  
Although this verse often cited to the effect that Islam as a religion categorically forbids killing (particularly in the name of the religon), in addition to the entirety of the verse itself it is instructive to look at the verse in context:  


{{Quote|{{Quran-range|5|27|34}}|And recite to them the story of Adam's two sons, in truth, when they both offered a sacrifice [to Allah], and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other. Said [the latter], "I will surely kill you." Said [the former], "Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him]. If you should raise your hand against me to kill me - I shall not raise my hand against you to kill you. Indeed, I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds. Indeed I want you to obtain [thereby] my sin and your sin so you will be among the companions of the Fire. And that is the recompense of wrongdoers." And his soul permitted to him the murder of his brother, so he killed him and became among the losers. Then Allah sent a crow searching in the ground to show him how to hide the disgrace of his brother. He said, "O woe to me! Have I failed to be like this crow and hide the body of my brother?" And he became of the regretful. Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors. Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment, Except for those who return [repenting] before you apprehend them. And know that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|5|27|34}}|And recite to them the story of Adam's two sons, in truth, when they both offered a sacrifice [to Allah], and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other. Said [the latter], "I will surely kill you." Said [the former], "Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him]. If you should raise your hand against me to kill me - I shall not raise my hand against you to kill you. Indeed, I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds. Indeed I want you to obtain [thereby] my sin and your sin so you will be among the companions of the Fire. And that is the recompense of wrongdoers." And his soul permitted to him the murder of his brother, so he killed him and became among the losers. Then Allah sent a crow searching in the ground to show him how to hide the disgrace of his brother. He said, "O woe to me! Have I failed to be like this crow and hide the body of my brother?" And he became of the regretful. Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors. Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment, Except for those who return [repenting] before you apprehend them. And know that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.}}
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