65/2.23. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4498 — Qisas, Forgiveness, and Blood Money
"O you who believe! Al- Qisas (the Law of Equality in punishment) is prescribed for you..." (V.2:178)
{عُفِيَ} تُرِكَ.
Hadith About Qisas and Diya in Islam
Sahih Bukhari : 4498
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4498
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُجَاهِدًا، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ يَقُولُ كَانَ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْقِصَاصُ، وَلَمْ تَكُنْ فِيهِمُ الدِّيَةُ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لِهَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ {كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِصَاصُ فِي الْقَتْلَى الْحُرُّ بِالْحُرِّ وَالْعَبْدُ بِالْعَبْدِ وَالأُنْثَى بِالأُنْثَى فَمَنْ عُفِيَ لَهُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ شَىْءٌ} فَالْعَفْوُ أَنْ يَقْبَلَ الدِّيَةَ فِي الْعَمْدِ {فَاتِّبَاعٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَأَدَاءٌ إِلَيْهِ بِإِحْسَانٍ} يَتَّبِعُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيُؤَدِّي بِإِحْسَانٍ، {ذَلِكَ تَخْفِيفٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ} وَرَحْمَةٌ مِمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ. {فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَلَهُ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ} قَتَلَ بَعْدَ قَبُولِ الدِّيَةِ.
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The law of Qisas (i.e. equality in punishment) was prescribed for the children of Israel, but the Diya (i.e. blood money was not ordained for them).So Allah said to this Nation (i.e. Muslims): "O you who believe! The law of Al-Qisas (i.e. equality in punishment) is prescribed for you in cases of murder: The free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But if the relatives (or one of them) of the killed (person) forgive their brother (i.e. the killers something of Qisas (i.e. not to kill the killer by accepting blood money in the case of intentional murder)----then the relatives (of the killed person) should demand blood-money in a reasonable manner and the killer must pay with handsome gratitude. This is an alleviation and a Mercy from your Lord, (in comparison to what was prescribed for the nations before you). So after this, whoever transgresses the limits (i.e. to kill the killer after taking the blood-money) shall have a painful torment." (2.178)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4498In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 25USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 25
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4498
This hadith about Qisas and Diya explains the verse on equality in punishment in cases of murder. Ibn Abbas says Qisas was prescribed for the Children of Israel, but Diya was not ordained for them. For this Ummah, the verse mentions Qisas and also speaks about forgiveness from the relatives of the killed person. The text explains that forgiveness means accepting blood money in intentional murder. It also says the demand should be made in a reasonable manner and payment should be made with good conduct. The warning at the end is against transgressing after that, explained here as killing after accepting Diya. The hadith balances justice, forgiveness, and limits.
What we learn from this hadith
- Qisas is mentioned as prescribed in cases of murder.
- The report explains forgiveness as accepting Diya in intentional murder.
- Demanding and paying blood money should be done in a good manner.
- Transgressing after accepting Diya is warned against in the text.
