The Quran about murder

In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful

The history of mankind is full of facts of people killing each other. What pushes a man to kill him like creature? Different people of different professions try to answer this question, but only the divine explanation of the nature of the murder reveals the true motives of this deed.

Sadly, the first murder took place between the brothers because of the service to God. The lack of prudence and faith led to the killing of a sibling.

And recite to them the true message about Adam’s two sons.

When they both offered a sacrifice, and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other.

Said [the latter], “I will surely kill you.”

Said [the former], “Indeed, God only accepts from the circumspect! If you should raise your hand against me to kill me – I shall not raise my hand against you to kill you. Indeed, I fear God, Lord of the worlds. Indeed I want you to obtain [thereby] a sin against me, your sin and so you will be among the companions of the fire. And that is the recompense of obscurantists!”

And he permitted to himself the murder of his brother, so he killed him and became among the losers. (5:27-30)

Jealousy towards the Creator actually had a source in striving to be a leader, to control the connection with the Lord, which has nothing to do with true service to God.

This event gave impetus to a deep comprehension of the relations of people.

Because of that, We decreed upon the children of Israel that whoever kills a personality not for killing a personality or for corruption in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely!

And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors. Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against God and His messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the hereafter is a great punishment, Except for those who return repenting before you apprehend them. And know that God is Forgiving and Merciful. (5:32-34)

The mention of the children of Israel is natural. After all, main known to us messengers were sent to them, therefore, the responsibility for them is very large.

Abraham is considered as a patriarch of monotheistic religions. History of his confrontation is vividly described in the Quran, the result of which was the demand for the execution of Abraham.

And the answer of Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) nation was not but that they said, “Kill him or burn him,” but God saved him from the fire. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe! (29:24)

The willingness of one brother to kill another brother is also shown in the example of the story with Joseph.

Kill Yusuf (Joseph) or cast him out to [another] land! The countenance of your father will [then] be only for you, and you will be after that a righteous people.” Said a speaker among them, “Do not kill Yusuf (Joseph) but throw him into the bottom of the well; some travelers will pick him up – if you would do [something].” (12:9-10)

In this place, jealousy took place as well. The brothers knew perfectly well about the status of their father, they all knew about faith in the Most High, but the struggle for the control of attention led to “repression” against Joseph.

The most detailed example shown is the life of Moses. By his providence, God enabled him to avoid killing and grow at pharaoh’s courtyard.

And the wife of [haraoh said, “[He will be] a comfort of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.” And they perceived not. (28:9)

The will of the Creator did not allow separating Moses from her mother.

When your sister went and said, ‘Shall I direct you to someone who will be responsible for him?’ So We restored you to your mother that she might be content and not grieve. And you killed personality, but We saved you from retaliation and tried you with a trial. And you remained [some] years among the people of Madyan. Then you came at the decreed time! (20:40)

On the example of Moses, there were two types of murder: unrighteous, when pharaoh ordered to cut the children of the Jews and unintentional, when Moses accidentally killed a man.

And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people and found therein two men fighting: one from his faction and one from among his enemy. And the one from his faction called for help to him against the one from his enemy, so Musa (Moses) struck him and [unintentionally] killed him.

He said, “This is from the work of disobedient. Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy!” (28:15)

Conclusion of Moses is remarkable. Repenting, he understood the sinfulness of the murder and the source of it, which is the disobedience to the Lord.

People are mostly selfish and quickly forget the help provided, trying to put all their sins on recent defender.

And when he wanted to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he said, “O Musa (Moses), do you intend to kill me as you killed someone yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land and do not want to be of the amenders!” (28:19)

Careless behaviour forced the future messenger to leave the country. In wandering, Moses found a family and wisdom. In a foreign land, he gained the status of the messenger, and as a result he was sent to go to pharaoh. Being a man, Moses was overcome by natural doubts.

He said, “My Lord, indeed, I killed from among them personality, and I fear they will kill me!” (28:33)

But the belief in God’s support outweighed all doubts and facilitated the fulfillment of the entrusted mission.

The reaction of the pharaoh also had a nature of jealousy to the faith in the Creator. And in this case, it moved him to commit a murder.

And when he brought them the truth from Us, they said, “Kill the sons of those who have believed with him and keep their women alive.” But the plan of the closed ones is not except in error.

And pharaoh said, “Let me kill Moses and let him call upon his Lord! Indeed, I fear that he will change your duty or that he will cause corruption in the land!” (40:25-26)

But among the people of Pharaoh there was a sensible, believing person.

And a believing man from the genus of pharaoh who concealed his faith said, “Do you kill a man [merely] because he says, ‘My Lord is God’ while he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord? And if he should be lying, then upon him is [the consequence of] his lie; but if he should be truthful, there will strike you some of what he promises you. Indeed, God does not guide one who is excessive and a liar. (40:28)

Negative reaction to an unattractive event can be thrown out very emotionally. In anger, Moses spoke out harshly about the polytheistic action of his nation.

And when Musa (Moses) said to his nation, “O my nation! Indeed you have wronged yourselves by your taking of the calf. So repent to your Creator and kill yourselves. That is best for [all of] you in the sight of your Creator.” Then He accepted your repentance; indeed, He is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful!” (2:54)

But the Almighty once again forgave Moses’s nation.

Murders occur in any society. Often, the killers tend to hide the fact of their participation. In the times of Moses, one such case was revealed with the help of God.

And when you slew a human soul and disputed over it, but God was to bring out that which you were concealing. (2:72)

What is faith in God?  It is in the fulfilment of the covenant with Him. The treaty is usually objective and clear, and the violation entails the envisaged “sanctions”.

When We made a covenant with you, that you do not shed each other’s blood or evict one another from your homes, then you acknowledged and witnessed it. Then, you are those killing one another and evicting a party of your people from their homes, cooperating against them in sin and aggression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, although their eviction was forbidden to you. So do you believe in part of the Prescription and conceal the other part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on the day of standing before God they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And God is not unaware of what you do. Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world in exchange for the hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided!

And We did certainly give Musa (Moses) the Prescription and followed up after him with messengers. (2:84-86)

The declaration of adherence to a certain direction does not show the true state of the adept. Only the deeds shown can indicate his faith. In fact, the majority, who consider themselves believers, do not meet the “standards”, which was shown on the example of the holders of the Prescription.

And if We had decreed upon them, “Kill yourselves” or “Leave your homes,” they would not have done it, except for a few of them. But if they had done what they were instructed, it would have been better for them and a firmer position. (4:66)

A zealous attitude to the connection with the Lord prevented the “priests” from the holders of the Prescription from accepting the Quran.

And when it is said to them, “Believe in what God has revealed,” they say, “We believe in what was revealed to us.” And they close themselves from what came after it, while it is the truth confirming that which is with them.

Say, “Then why did you kill the prophets of God before, if you are believers?” (2:91)

The reproach about the murders of messengers that happened earlier is fair. After all, they came to a sick society, where the religious “elite” already “ruled”, which zealously concerned the loss of their monopoly on intermediation with the Creator.

For the rejection of the truth, the “corporation” put forward unreasonable arguments.

Those who said, “Indeed, God has taken our promise not to believe any messenger until he brings us an offering which fire will consume.” ask, “There have already come to you messengers before me with clear proofs and [even] that of which you speak. So why did you kill them, if you should be truthful?” (3:183)

Falsity of “priestly” excuses is most vividly represented in the story with Jesus.

And We did certainly give Musa (Moses) the Prescription and followed up after him with messengers. And We gave Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit. But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you with what yourselves did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed. (2:87)

And [for] their saying, “Indeed, we have killed the messiah, Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), the messenger of God!”

And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. (4:157)

Blinded by their idea of faith, the tongues of Muhammad’s opponents were not afraid to voice a clear disrespect for God.

God has certainly heard the speeches of those who said, “Indeed, God is poor, while we are rich.” We will record what they said and their killing of the prophets without right.

We will say, “Taste the punishment of the burning fire!”(3:181)

All this is dictated by superficial faith, which manifested itself in violations of the prescriptions of the Most High. And as a result of such activities, the Creator limited corresponding holders of the Prescriptions.

And for their breaking of the covenant and their nature closed from the signs of God and their killing of the prophets without right and their saying, “Our hearts are wrapped”. Rather, God has sealed them because of their closed nature, so they believe not, except for a few. (4:155)

In the Quran, the vector of the previous Prescriptions for fair relationships with others is carried on.

O you who have believed! Do not consume one another’s wealth in vainness but if only it is a trade by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, God is to you ever Merciful! (4:29)

In this direction, the topic of killing a person is important. Like any other act, it is regulated by certain rules.

And do not kill the personality which God has forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly – We have given his heir the authority, but let him not exceed limits in taking the life. Indeed, he has been helped! (17:33)

The rules are described in the system of punishment for murder.

O you who have believed! Prescribed for you is legal retribution for those murdered – the free for the free, the servant for the servant, and the female for the female. But whoever overlooks from his brother anything, then there should be a suitable follow-up and payment to him with good conduct. This is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy. But whoever transgresses after that will have a painful punishment. And there is for you in legal retribution [saving of] life, O you [people] of understanding, that you may become circumspect! (2:178-179)

Particular attention is paid to the killing of children. Undoubtedly, such facts have the most serious consequences, even if it is committed by stupidity.

Those will have lost who killed their children in foolishness without knowledge and prohibited what God had provided for them, inventing untruth about God. They have gone astray and were not [rightly] guided! (6:140)

All this is relevant to our time as well. Numerous unjustified abortions, corpses of babies in trash, deceased “foundlings” – are a disease of our society. For the healing of this disease, the following prescriptions were sent down:

Say, “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you, that you not associate anything with Him, and to parents, good treatment, and do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them. And do not approach excessiveness – what is apparent of them and what is concealed. And do not kill the personality which God has forbidden except by [legal] right. This is His testament for you that you may use reason.” (6:151)

And do not kill your children for fear of hardship! We provide for them and for you! Indeed, their killing is ever a great mistake! (17:31)

True monotheism is called upon to combat the manifestations of polytheism, which were also in the form of killing children.

And likewise, to many of the ones who associate partners with God, their partners have made pleasing the killing of their children in order to bring about their destruction and to cover them with confusion in their duty. And if God had willed, they would not have done so. So leave them and that which they invent! (6:137)

Such a disgusting act will surely be condemned by God on the Day of Debt.

And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked for what trespass she was killed (81:8-9)

At its core, murder is designed to remove an obstacle on the way of a person. This may be dictated by different reasons, but the most terrible, in consequence, is an unjustified murder in the sphere of faith in the Creator.