The Holy Quran 17:33 — Surah Al-Isra

Arabic text

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَمَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِيِّهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا فَلَا يُسْرِف فِّى ٱلْقَتْلِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ مَنصُورًا

Translation

And do not kill a soul that Allaah has forbidden except with a warrant (such as a penalty for a crime). Whoever is killed unjustly, then verily We have granted authority to his heir (to have the murderer executed), so let him not transgress in execution (by executing someone else, executing without sufficient evidence or harming the murderer before his execution). Indeed he (the heir of the murdered person when he does not transgress) shall be assisted (by Allaah).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The prohibition of unjust killing: in the two Sahihs (of al-Bukhari and Muslim) it is stated that the blood of a Muslim is not lawful except in three cases: a life for a life; a muhsan (one who is or has been lawfully married) who commits zina (adultery); and one who abandons the religion and separates from the community.

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.