سورة الإسراء

Imam Ali (peace be upon him)- In Nahj al-Balagha, in the covenant which the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) made with Malik, it is stated: Beware of bloodshed and shun unjust bloodshed, for nothing brings divine retribution closer, makes punishment greater, hastens the destruction of blessings, and brings the end of a government nearer, than the shedding of blood unjustly. On the Day of Resurrection, Allah the Glorified will judge the shedding of unlawful blood before dealing with the deeds of the servants. So do not strengthen your rule by shedding unlawful blood, for unlawful blood weakens and lowers the foundations of rule and uproots it and transfers it to another. Allah says: وَ مَنْ قُتِلَ مَظْلُوماً فَقَدْ جَعَلْنا لِوَلِیِّهِ سُلْطاناً فَلا یُسْرِفْ فِی الْقَتْلِ إِنَّهُ کانَ مَنْصُوراً [And whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he is aided]. You will have no excuse — neither with me nor before Allah — for unlawful bloodshed, because its penalty is retaliation (qisas) and there is no escape from it. If you unintentionally shed someone's blood, or your whip or sword or hand went too far — for sometimes a single blow can kill a person, let alone more than that — then do not let the pride of your power prevent you from paying the blood-money to the heirs of the slain!

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him)- وَ لاَ تَقْتُلُواْ النَّفْسَ الَّتِی حَرَّمَ اللهُ إِلاَّ بِالحَقِّ وَ مَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِیِّهِ سُلْطَانًا [And do not kill anyone whose blood Allah has forbidden, except by right, and whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority], that is, authority over the killer.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Twelve nights of the month of Rajab had passed when Amir al-Mu'minin Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) came from Basra into Kufa. He (peace be upon him) came forward until he stood upon the pulpit, offered praise and thanks to Allah, and then said: "To proceed — praise be to Allah who aided His friend and humiliated and forsook His enemy, and honoured the truthful one who stood by the truth and abased the lying one who followed falsehood." Malik ibn Habib al-Tamimi al-Yarbu'i, who was one of the officers of the guard, stood up and said: "By Allah! I regard speaking ill of them and saying harsh and offensive words to them as too little. By Allah, if you command us we will kill them all." Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) said: "O Malik! You have gone beyond the limit, overstepped the bounds, and drawn the bow of enmity to its very end!" He said: "O Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him)! A little harshness in some of the matters that come to you is more effective than falling short and making peace with the enemies." Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) said: "O Malik, Allah has not commanded such a thing, and His command is not so. Allah the Exalted has said: النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ [a life for a life] (Ma'idah/45). With this command, what room is there for even a little injustice? And Allah the Glorified has said: وَ مَنْ قُتِلَ مَظْلُوماً فَقَدْ جَعَلْنا لِوَلِیِّهِ سُلْطاناً فَلا یُسْرِفْ فِی الْقَتْلِ إِنَّهُ کانَ مَنْصُورا [And whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he is aided]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): If a number of persons take part in killing one man, the heir of the slain may kill whichever of them he wishes, but he may not kill more than one; for Allah says: وَ مَنْ قُتِلَ مَظْلُوماً فَقَدْ جَعَلْنا لِوَلِیِّهِ سُلْطاناً فَلا یُسْرِفْ فِی الْقَتْلِ [And whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abu al-Abbas said: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about the ruling on two persons who kill one man. He said: "His heir has the choice — he may kill whichever of them he wishes, and the other pays half of his blood-money to his heirs. Likewise, if a man kills a woman and the heirs of the slain woman accept the blood-money, he pays the blood-money; otherwise, the heirs of the woman must pay half the blood-money of the man and then kill him. And this is the meaning of the word of Allah, who says: فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِیِّهِ سُلْطَانًا فَلاَ یُسْرِف فِّی الْقَتْلِ [We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying]."

Imam Kazim (peace be upon him): Ishaq ibn Ammar said: I asked Imam Kazim (peace be upon him): "Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says in His Book: وَ مَنْ قُتِلَ مَظْلُوماً فَقَدْ جَعَلْنا لِوَلِیِّهِ سُلْطاناً فَلا یُسْرِفْ فِی الْقَتْلِ إِنَّهُ کانَ مَنْصُوراً [And whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he is aided]. What is this excess (israf) which Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, has forbidden?" He said: "Allah has forbidden that someone other than the killer be killed, or that the killer be mutilated." I asked: "Then what is the meaning of إِنَّهُ کَانَ مَنْصُورًا [surely he is aided]?" He said: "What aid could be greater than that the killer be handed over to the heirs of the slain so that they may kill him, and no one in this world or the hereafter will hold him to account for this killing?"

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Allah sent Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) as Messenger in Mecca, and for a period of ten years the belief of the followers of the Messenger (peace be upon him and his family) was that Allah is One and has no partner and that Muhammad is His Messenger (peace be upon him and his family). Whoever held these two beliefs and departed the world entered Paradise, and all the followers of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) who died with this belief are counted among his followers, except those who died as polytheists. The proof of this matter is that Allah the Mighty and Majestic in Surah Bani Israil, which was revealed in Mecca, said: وَ قَضی رَبُّکَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِیَّاهُ وَ بِالْوالِدَیْنِ إِحْساناً إِمَّا یَبْلُغَنَّ عِنْدَکَ الْکِبَرَ أَحَدُهُما أَوْ کِلاهُما فَلا تَقُلْ لَهُما أُفٍّ وَ لا تَنْهَرْهُما وَ قُلْ لَهُما قَوْلاً کَریماً [And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and to be good to parents. Whether one or both of them reach old age with you, do not say to them 'uff' and do not rebuke them, and speak to them a noble word]. Here He confined Himself only to admonition, advice, teaching and a mild prohibition, and for those who commit forbidden acts no promise or threat has been laid down. In another place He forbade a matter and gave warning, but did not adopt severity and did not threaten with punishment. Allah has said in the Qur'an: وَ لاتَقْتُلُوا أَوْلادَکُمْ خَشْیَةَ إِمْلاقٍ نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَ إِیَّاکُمْ إِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ کانَ خِطْأً کَبِیراً* وَ لا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنی إِنَّهُ کانَ فاحِشَةً وَ ساءَ سَبِیلًا* وَ لا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِی حَرَّمَ اللهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَ مَنْ قُتِلَ مَظْلُوماً فَقَدْ جَعَلْنا لِوَلِیِّهِ سُلْطاناً فَلا یُسْرِفْ فِی الْقَتْلِ إِنَّهُ کانَ مَنْصُوراً* وَ لا تَقْرَبُوا مالَ الْیَتِیمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِی هِیَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّی یَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَ أَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ کانَ مَسْؤُلًا* وَ أَوْفُوا الْکَیْلَ إِذا کِلْتُمْ وَ زِنُوا بِالْقِسْطاسِ الْمُسْتَقِیمِ ذلِکَ خَیْرٌ وَ أَحْسَنُ تَأْوِیلًا* وَ لا تَقْفُ ما لَیْسَ لَکَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَ الْبَصَرَ وَ الْفُؤادَ کُلُّ أُولئِکَ کانَ عَنْهُ مَسْؤُلًا* وَ لا تَمْشِ فِی الْأَرْضِ مَرَحاً إِنَّکَ لَنْ تَخْرِقَ الْأَرْضَ وَ لَنْ تَبْلُغَ الْجِبالَ طُولًا [And do not kill your children for fear of poverty; We provide for them and for you; indeed their killing is a great sin. And do not go near adultery; indeed it is an indecency and an evil way. And do not kill the soul that Allah has forbidden, except by right; and whoever is slain unjustly, We have given his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he is aided. And do not go near the property of the orphan except with what is best, until he reaches maturity. And fulfil the covenant; indeed the covenant will be asked about. And give full measure when you measure, and weigh with a straight balance; that is better and finer in interpretation. And do not follow that of which you have no knowledge; indeed the hearing, the sight and the heart — all of these will be asked about. And do not walk upon the earth in arrogance; indeed you can neither cleave the earth nor reach the mountains in height]; and all of these are hateful in the sight of Allah. These matters are among those which Allah revealed to you, and all of them are wisdom and knowledge. Never set up another god along with Allah, for you will be cast into Hell, blamed and driven away [from Allah's court]! (Al-Isra/39).

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Hajjal narrates from one of his companions: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said regarding فَلاَ یُسْرِف فِّی الْقَتْلِ [so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying]: "It was revealed concerning Imam Husayn (peace be upon him): if all the people of the earth were killed in retaliation for the killing of Husayn (peace be upon him), it would not be extravagance or exceeding the limit."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Jabir said: Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) said: "This verse: وَ مَنْ قُتِلَ مَظْلُوماً فَقَدْ جَعَلْنا لِوَلِیِّهِ سُلْطاناً فَلا یُسْرِفْ فِی الْقَتْلِ إِنَّهُ کانَ مَنْصُوراً [And whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he is aided] was revealed concerning Imam Husayn (peace be upon him)."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Ja'far ibn Muhammad al-Fazari narrates through a chain from Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) that concerning the verse: وَ مَنْ قُتِلَ مَظْلُوماً [And whoever is slain unjustly], he said: "He is Husayn ibn Ali (peace be upon him), and the rest of the verse: فَقَدْ جَعَلْنا لِوَلِیِّهِ سُلْطاناً فَلا یُسْرِفْ فِی الْقَتْلِ إِنَّهُ کانَ مَنْصُوراً [We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he is aided] refers to Imam of the Age (may Allah hasten his noble reappearance), whose name in the verse is al-Mansur (the aided one), just as Allah called Ahmad and Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) 'Mahmud' and called Isa (peace be upon him) 'al-Masih'."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Jabir said: Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) said: This verse was revealed concerning the killing of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him); that is, the heir of Husayn (peace be upon him), Hazrat Mahdi (may Allah hasten his noble reappearance), is the one aided [by Allah].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): The soul whose killing Allah has forbidden was Imam Husayn (peace be upon him), whom they martyred among his household.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Mu'adh ibn Kathir narrates: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "O Mu'adh! The major sins are seven; their command was revealed concerning us, and they are realised through opposition to us and violation of our sanctity ... [one of] them is the killing of the soul that Allah has forbidden. They killed Husayn ibn Ali (peace be upon him) along with his companions."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): وَ مَنْ قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِیِّهِ سُلْطَانًا [And whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority], we are the awliya and the guardians of the blood of Husayn ibn Ali (peace be upon him), and we are upon his religion.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): وَ مَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِیِّهِ سُلْطَانًا فَلاَ یُسْرِف فِّی الْقَتْلِ إِنَّهُ کَانَ مَنْصُورًا [And whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he is aided] — this refers to Husayn ibn Ali (peace be upon him), who was killed unjustly, and we are the guardians of his blood. And when the Qaim (may Allah hasten his noble reappearance) appears, he will take revenge for the blood of Husayn (peace be upon him), and he will kill so many that it will be said he has exceeded the limits in slaying. The slain one is Husayn (peace be upon him) and his heir is the Qaim (may Allah hasten his noble reappearance), and exceeding the limits in slaying means killing someone other than the killer. إِنَّهُ کَانَ مَنْصُورًا [surely he is aided] — meaning: the world will not come to an end until a man from the family of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) achieves victory and fills the earth with justice and equity just as it had been filled with oppression and injustice.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Muhammad ibn Sinan narrates from a person: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about this verse: وَ مَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِیِّهِ سُلْطَانًا فَلاَ یُسْرِف فِّی الْقَتْلِ إِنَّهُ کَانَ مَنْصُورًا [And whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he is aided]. He said: 'This refers to the Qaim of the family of Muhammad (may Allah hasten his noble reappearance), who will rise and take retribution for the blood of Husayn (peace be upon him), and if he were to kill all the people of the earth in this retribution, he would not have exceeded the limits or gone to excess. And the verse فَلاَ یُسْرِف فِّی الْقَتْلِ [so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying] — he will not do anything that is excess.' Then the Imam (peace be upon him) said: 'By Allah! The Qaim (may Allah hasten his noble reappearance) will kill the offspring and descendants of the killers of Husayn (peace be upon him) in retribution for the crime of their fathers.'

Imam Rida (peace be upon him): Abd al-Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi said: I asked Imam Rida (peace be upon him): 'O son of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)! A hadith has been narrated from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): when the Qaim (may Allah hasten his noble reappearance) rises, he will kill the offspring and descendants of the killers of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) in retribution for the crime of their fathers. What do you say about this?' He said: 'It is exactly so.' I asked: 'Then what is the meaning of Allah's saying: وَ لاَ تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَی [And no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another]?' He said: 'All that Allah has said is true and truth, but the descendants of the killers of Husayn (peace be upon him) are pleased with the deeds of their fathers and take pride in them, and whoever is pleased with the occurrence of an act is like one who has done it. If someone is killed in the east and someone in the west is pleased with his death, in the sight of Allah he is considered a partner in the killer's deed. The Qaim (may Allah hasten his noble reappearance) kills them only because they are pleased and content with the deeds of their fathers.' I asked: 'What is the first thing your Qaim (may Allah hasten his noble reappearance) will do after his rising?' He said: 'He will begin with Banu Shayba and cut off their hands, because they are the thieves of the House of the Kaaba.'

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): فَلاَ یُسْرِف فِّی الْقَتْلِ إِنَّهُ کَانَ مَنْصُورًا [so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he is aided] — the son of the slain one is aided and assisted against the killer.