17. Surah Al Isra

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ أَوْلادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلاقٍ...   

17: 31.  Kill not your children for fear of want:

C2214. The Arabs were addicted to female infanticide. In a society perpetually at war a son was a source of strength whereas a daughter was a source of weakness. Even now infanticide is not unknown in other countries for economic reasons.

This crime against children's lives is here characterized as one of the greatest of sins.

...نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُم...

We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you:

...إنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْءًا كَبِيرًا ﴿٣١﴾

verily the killing of them is a great sin.

وَلاَ تَقْرَبُواْ الزِّنَى إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاء سَبِيلاً ﴿٣٢﴾

17: 32.  Nor come nigh to adultery:

for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).

C2215. Adultery is not only shameful in itself and inconsistent with any self-respect or respect for others, but it opens the road to many evils.

-         It destroys the basis of the family:

-         it works against the interests of children born or to be born;

-         it may cause murders and feuds and loss of reputation and property, and also loosen permanently the bonds of society.

Not only should it be avoided as a sin, but any approach or temptation to it should be avoided.

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: 31

Pickthall Slay not your children, fearing a fall to poverty, We shall provide for them and for you. Lo! the slaying of them is great sin.

Transliteration Wa la_ taqtulu_ aula_dakum khasy-yata imla_q(in), nahnu narzuquhum wa iyya_kum, inna qatlahum ka_na khit'an kabira_(n).

17: 32

Pickthall And come not near unto adultery. Lo! it is an abomination and an evil way.

Transliteration Wa la_ taqrabuz zina_ innahu_ ka_na fa_hisyah(tan), wa sa_'a sabila_(n).

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).