What is the Law of Retaliation for Murder?
Q: What is the Law of Retaliation for Murder?
A: (Al-Ghisas/the Law of Retaliation, 2:178-179).
2:178 “O those who believe, the law of equality has been prescribed to you in cases of the killing: the free for the free, and the slave for the slave, and the woman for the woman. But if any remission is made for him by brother (the victim’s kin), then grant 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.”
2:179 “And in the (law of) Equality, there is life (saving) for you, O you who possess intelligence that you may restrain yourselves.”
These verses are also conditioned, under the rule of: “O those who believe,” concerning people of the present and past, who must follow the jurisdiction of their own time and countries of residence, in the case of killing and murder. (The rule of the way people are addressed in verses, concerning the Law and Jurisdiction in the Qur’an, as mentioned in What about cutting off the thief’s hand?) But concerning special cases, such as ancient tribes that executed the law of retaliation/equality themselves, such as the time of Prophet Muhammad (and maybe today in some parts of the world), then the law of retaliation should, according to the Qur’an, be the law of equality: “the free for free and slave for slave, woman for woman, etc.” Nevertheless, even if today, at our time there still exist places with no executive or administrative government for official jurisdiction, that the case of Jurisprudence is executed individually, depending on the remission by the people of the victims, it is strongly recommended to leave it to the Justice of God, and settle for remission and compensation, for a reasonable demand/price.