The Holy Quran, like a radiant lamp, serves as humanitys guide towards felicity and salvation. This celestial book, with profound and sagacious discourse, presents legal rulings, ethics, and social principles within illuminating verses that are not only pertinent to the era of revelation but serve as guidance for all ages and generations. In this treatise, verses from Surahs An-Nisa and Al-A'raf are examined and elucidated, addressing subjects such as blood money (diyah), characteristics of righteous women, the sanctity of orphans property, and regulations regarding intoxicants. These verses, through a rational and educative approach, provide a comprehensive framework for regulating human and social relations. The objective of this work is to delve into the profound meanings of these verses and connect them with the realities of human life in a manner that reveals both the spirit of divine wisdom and practical guidance for a faithful life.
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ أَنْ يَقْتُلَ مُؤْمِنًا إِلَّا خَطَأً ۚ وَمَنْ قَتَلَ مُؤْمِنًا خَطَأً فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُؤْمِنَةٍ وَدِيَةٌ مُسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَصَّدَّقُوا ۚ فَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ قَوْمٍ عَدُوٍّ لَكُمْ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُؤْمِنَةٍ ۖ وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ مِيثَاقٌ فَدِيَةٌ مُسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ وَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُؤْمِنَةٍ
It is not for a believer to kill a believer except by mistake. And whoever kills a believer by mistake, then [must] free a believing slave and pay blood money to the deceaseds family unless they remit it. But if he was from a people at war with you while he was a believer, then freeing a believing slave is obligatory. And if he was from a people with whom you have a treaty, blood money must be paid to his family, and a believing slave must be freed.
This verse, emphasising the sanctity of a believers life, demonstrates the exalted status of human life within the Islamic ethical system. The phrase It is not for a believer to kill a believer rings as a bell, warning that even accidental killing is unbecoming of a believer. Nevertheless, the Holy Quran, through divine wisdom, presents equitable measures for accidental killing: the emancipation of a believing slave and the payment of blood money to the victims family. These two acts respectively represent spiritual recompense before God and material restitution for the family of the deceased. The possibility of remission of blood money by the heirs (unless they remit it) indicates the flexibility of Sharia in respecting human volition, as if a window is opened towards mercy and forgiveness.
The distinction between blood money and atonement (emancipation of a slave) in this verse reveals Islams holistic approach to compensation. Blood money, as a material indemnity, consoles the victims family, while freeing a slave, a spiritual act, directs the offender towards repentance and reform. These rulings align with human rationality and find parallels in other religions, indicating a shared root in divine teachings. For instance, modern laws impose state penalties and compensations to the complainant in a manner somewhat analogous to these injunctions.
Verse 92 of Surah An-Nisa, with sagacious expression, establishes a just framework for accidental killing that not only addresses material and spiritual recompense but also facilitates mercy and forgiveness through remission. This verse acts as a mirror reflecting divine justice and mercy alongside human rationality.
الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنْفَقُوا مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ ۚ فَالصَّالِحَاتُ قَانِتَاتٌ حَافِظَاتٌ لِلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللَّهُ
Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has given some of them preference over others and because they spend out of their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard.
This verse introduces righteous women with two prominent attributes: devoutly obedient and guarding the unseen. Devoutly obedient signifies conformity and humility within the framework of conjugal life, not servitude or humiliation. This attribute, like a gentle stream, nurtures family life and prevents obstinacy and disobedience. Guarding the unseen refers to preserving the sanctity of life, honour, and possessions in the husband's absence, as if a righteous woman acts as a faithful guardian of the familys sanctuary. Misinterpretations such as folded arms or disparagement of women represent distortions incompatible with the spirit of the Holy Quran. This verse delineates the complementary roles of men and women in
