17. Surah Al Isra

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللّهُ إِلاَّ بِالحَقِّ...   

17: 33.  Nor take life -- which Allah has made sacred -- except for just cause.

...وَمَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِيِّهِ سُلْطَانًا ...

And if anyone is slain wrongfully, We have given his heir authority (to demand Qisas or to forgive):

C2216. On the subject of Qisas see 2:178 and the notes thereto.

Under the strict limitations there laid down, a life may be taken for a life. The heir is given the right to demand the life; but he must not exceed due bounds, because he is helped by the Law.

Some Commentators understand "he" in "he is helped (by the Law)" to refer to the heir of the person against whom Qisas is sought. He too will be helped by the Law, if the heir of the first slain exceeds the 'bounds of Law.

... فَلاَ يُسْرِف فِّي الْقَتْلِ...

but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life:

...إِنَّهُ كَانَ مَنْصُورًا ﴿٣٣﴾

for he is helped (by the Law).

Pickthall’s Version:

17: 33

Pickthall And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden save with right. Whoso is slain wrongfully, We have given power unto his heir, but let him not commit excess in slaying. Lo! he will be helped.

Transliteration Wa la_ taqtulun nafsal lati harramalla_hu illa_ bil haqq(i), wa man qutila mazlu_man faqad ja'alna_ li waliyyihi sulta_nan fala_ yusrif fil qatl(i), innahu_ ka_na mansu_ra_(n).