Al-Isra
الإسراء
وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَمَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِيِّهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا فَلَا يُسْرِف فِّى ٱلْقَتْلِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ مَنصُورًا
Translation
And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly — We have given his heir authority, but let him not exceed limits in the matter of taking life. Indeed, he has been supported by the law.
Tafsir (Commentary)
This verse establishes the inviolability of human life as a divine command, complementing 5:32 (the sanctity of life verse). It adds a crucial legal dimension: even when seeking justice for wrongful killing, the victim's heir must not 'exceed limits' — prohibiting collective punishment, disproportionate retaliation, and vigilante justice. The phrase 'except by right' (illa bil-haqq) means only through proper legal process. This verse became foundational to the Islamic jurisprudence of qisas (legal retribution) with its strict evidentiary requirements.
Context of Revelation
Part of a series of ethical commandments in Surah Al-Isra (verses 22-39) that scholars compare to the Ten Commandments — covering monotheism, parental respect, generosity, sanctity of life, and sexual ethics.