Islam's Teachings on an Eye for an Eye
Islam's teachings on an eye for an eye come from Quran 5:45, which describes the law given in the Torah and balances strict proportional justice with the superior virtue of forgiveness.
Key Takeaways
- •Quran 5:45 references the principle of proportional retribution (Qisas).
- •Retribution is strictly regulated by judicial courts, never personal vigilantism.
- •The Quran explicitly elevates forgiveness as an expiation for sins.
- •The ultimate objective of Islamic law is preserving human life and harmony.
The phrase 'an eye for an eye' is frequently quoted, yet frequently misunderstood. In the Islamic worldview, the principle known as Qisas represents the transition from tribal vengeance to institutional, equalized justice.
Before Islam, Arabian tribal feuds often led to entire families being slaughtered over the death of a single person. Islamic law instituted a revolutionary constraint: only the perpetrator could be held accountable, and retribution could never exceed the harm caused.
Crucially, the Quran does not stop at proportional justice. In the very same verse, God declares: 'But whoever waives it as charity, it is an expiation for him' (Quran 5:45). Islam positions forgiveness as the morally superior and spiritually elevating choice.
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