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That if anyone slew A person-unless it be For murder or for speading Mischief in the landIt would be as if He slew the whole people: 737 And if anyone saved a life. h would be as if he saved The life of the whole people. Then although there came To them Our Messengers With Clear Signs, yet, Even after that, many Of them continued to commit Excesses in the land. 33. The punishment of those Who wage war against Allah And His Messenger. and strive With might and main For mischief through the land 7311 Is: execution. or crucifixion, Or the cutting off of hands And feet from opposite sides. 739 Or exile from the land:
737. The story of Cain is referred to in a few graphic details in order to tell the story of Israel. Israel rebelled against Allah. slew and insulted righteous men who did them no harm but on the contrary came in all humility. When Allah withdrew His favour from Israel because of its sins and bestowed it on brother nation. the jealollsy of Israel plunged it deeper into sin. To kill or ~ek to kill an individual because he represents an ideal is to kill all who upold the ideal. On the other hand. to save an individual life in the same circumstances is to save a whole community. What could be stronger condemnation of individual assassination and revenge'! 73K. For the double crime of treason against the State. combined with treason against Allah. as shown by overt crimes. four alternative punishments arc mentioned. anyone of which is to be applied according to the crime committed. viz., execution (CUlling off of the head). crucifixion. maiming. or exile. These were features of the Criminal Law then and for centuries afterwards. except that tortures such as "hanging, drawing, llOd quartering" in English Law. and piercing of eyes and leaving the unfortunate victim exposed to a tropical sun. which was practised in Arabia. and all such tortures were abolished. In any case sincere repentance before it was too late was recognised liS a ground for mercy.
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