What does it mean when the Quran says that a woman should be kileld for killing a woman?

Question

There is a verse in the Quran [2 : 178] that says:

"O ye who believe! The law of equality is prescribed to you in cases of murder: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the woman for the woman"

Most Muslim scholars interpret the above verse saying that a woman SHOULD be kileld for killing a woman (or a man) while a man CANNOT be killed for killing a woman. This is why in Saudi Arabiya the mount of money set to free a killer when killing a woman is HALF that if the victim was a man.

Is theer any reason for changing the punishment on basis of the SEX of the victim?

Answer 1

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth????

I'm sorry, but, your quote doesn't say anything about a man being free to kill a woman, does it????

So, the question is, where did you read that in????

Cheers!

Simon Templar

Answer 2

Honor Killings actually in the Quran: It is based in the verse, where an innocent (but dishonoring to the family) boy was killed, so that Allah can give the parents another son, a good one: Quran (18:65-81) - This parable lays the theological groundwork for honor killings, in which a family member is murdered because they brought shame to the family, either through apostasy or perceived moral indiscretion. The story (which is not found in any Jewish or Christian source) tells of Moses encountering a man with "special knowledge" who does things which don't seem to make sense on the surface, but are then justified according to later explanation. One such action is to murder a youth for no apparent reason (74). However, the wise man later explains that it was feared that the boy would "grieve" his parents by "disobedience and ingratitude." He was killed so that Allah could provide them a 'better' son. (verse 81) (Note: This is one reason why honor killing is sanctioned by Sharia. Reliance of the Traveler (Umdat al-Saliq) says that punishment for murder is not applicable when a parent or grandparent kills their offspring (o.1.1-2).)

Answer 3

I don't think that's the correct interpretation. In Islamic law, the killer is killed unless the family accepts blood money. A man should be killed for killing a woman. Saudi Arabia has a lot of made up laws.

Answer 4

Actually you didn't said it in full, here's the full verse:

O you who believe! retaliation is prescribed for you in the matter of the slain, the free for the free, and the slave for the slave, and the female for the female, but if any remission is made to any one by his (aggrieved) brother, then prosecution (for the bloodwit) should be made according to usage, and payment should be made to him in a good manner; this is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy; so whoever exceeds the limit after this he shall have a painful chastisement.

Answer 5

The Command and the Wisdom behind the Law of Equality

Allah states: O believers! The Law of equality has been ordained on you (for cases of murder), the free for the free, the slave for the slave and the female for the female. Therefore, do not transgress the set limits, as others before you transgressed them, and thus changed what Allah has ordained for them. The reason behind this statement is that (the Jewish tribe of) Banu An-Nadir invaded Qurayzah (another Jewish tribe) during the time of Jahiliyyah (before Islam) and defeated them. Hence, (they made it a law that) when a person from Nadir kills a person from Quraizah, he is not killed in retaliation, but only pays a hundred Wasq of dates. However, when a person from Quraizah kills a Nadir man, he would be killed for him. If Nadir wanted (to forfeit the execution of the murderer and instead require him) to pay a ransom, the Quraizah man pays two hundred Wasq of dates [double the amount Nadir pays in Diyah (blood money)]. So Allah commanded that justice be observed regarding the penal code, and that the path of the misguided and mischievous persons be avoided, who in disbelief and transgression, defy and alter what Allah has commanded them. Allah said:

[كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِصَاصُ فِي الْقَتْلَى الْحُرُّ بِالْحُرِّ وَالْعَبْدُ بِالْعَبْدِ وَالاٍّنثَى بِالاٍّنْثَى]

(Al-Qisas (the Law of equality in punishment) is prescribed for you in case of murder: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female.)

The Benefits and Wisdom of the Law of Equality

Allah's statement:

[وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقِصَاصِ حَيَوةٌ]

(And there is life for you in Al-Qisas) legislating the Law of equality, i.e., killing the murderer, carries great benefits for you. This way, the sanctity of life will be preserved because the killer will refrain from killing, as he will be certain that if he kills, he would be killed. Hence life will be preserved. In previous Books, there is a statement that killing stops further killing! This meaning came in much clearer and eloquent terms in the Qur'an:

[وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقِصَاصِ حَيَوةٌ]

(And there is (a saving of) life for you in Al-Qisas (the Law of equality in punishment).)

Abu Al-`Aliyah said, "Allah made the Law of equality a `life'. Hence, how many a man who thought about killing, but this Law prevented him from killing for fear that he will be killed in turn.'' Similar statements were reported from Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Malik, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Muqatil bin Hayyan. Allah's statement:

[يأُولِي الأَلْبَـبِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ]

(O men of understanding, that you may acquire Taqwa.) means, `O you who have sound minds, comprehension and understanding! Perhaps by this you will be compelled to refrain from transgressing the prohibitions of Allah and what He considers sinful. ' Taqwa (mentioned in the Ayah) is a word that means doing all acts of obedience and refraining from all prohibitions.

Answer 6

i used to think about this verse a lot ,interpretors say that this verse was overwhelmed by another one:

005.045 And We prescribed for them therein: The life for the life, and the eye for the eye, and the nose for the nose, and the ear for the ear, and the tooth for the tooth, and for wounds retaliation. But whoso forgoeth it (in the way of charity) it shall be expiation for him. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are wrong-doers. (QURAN)

Answer 7

no it mean eye for an eye, slave for an slave, man for a man, nose for nose hand for hand and ETC. "The law of equality " for example if someone kills someone then the victims family or (government) has a right to assign death penalty. Or if some one breaks some one's hand then that person could break that persons hand.

Answer 8

Actually, I think it's just a metaphor for "an eye for an eye." The law of equality says that if you murder someone then you are held accountable.

Answer 9

i am a muslim and to my knowledge that's not true, theres a hadith which is like a little story or parable that once under the seconed ruler of islam omar ibn el khattab that there was this woman who was attacked and the man tried to rape her so she grabbed a knife and stuck it in his side as a way to defend herself and out of panic she had him thrown out in the street now when omar found out about this he went to investigate and after finding out that it was a form of self deefence he pardoned the murder.

Answer 10

Actually, it seems to indicate that if someone kills your woman (as a possession) you can kill one of theirs.. Sounds evil, but not in the way you are saying it.