Qisas | September 13, 2004

Qisas is Arabic and means retaliation. It is the legal principle for either killing or wounding. In contrast to the blood feud of pre-islamic Arabian tribes, the Koran limits the vengeance to which a person is entitled. Sura 5,45-49 recognizes this principle in the Torah, and adds that expiation will result from foregoing it. Muhammad himself advised many followers to forgive and accept a money payment as compensation.