مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَنَّهُۥ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًۢا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَآ أَحْيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًا ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ 32
Translations
Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And Our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.
Transliteration
Min ajli dhalika katabna 'ala bani isra'ila annahu man qatala nafsan bighayri nafsin aw fasadin fil-ardi fakannama qatala an-nasa jami'an wa man ahyaha fakannama ahya an-nasa jami'an wa-laqad ja'athum rusuluna bil-bayyinati thumma inna kathiran minhum ba'da dhalika fil-ardi lamusrifun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, revealed in the context of the prohibition of unlawful killing, establishes that the act of murdering a single innocent person is equivalent to killing all of humanity, while saving a life equals saving all mankind. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this hyperbolic comparison emphasizes the gravity of unjust homicide and the immense value of human life in Islamic law. The ayah concludes by noting that despite receiving clear signs (bayyinaat) through the prophets, many humans continue to commit transgressions on earth, highlighting the tragic disconnect between divine guidance and human disobedience.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Ma'idah, a Medinan surah dealing extensively with laws and regulations. It appears in the context of laws prescribed for the Children of Israel and their violation thereof. The surah addresses various prohibitions and permissions, with 5:32 establishing the sanctity of human life as a foundational principle of Islamic jurisprudence.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever kills a person who has a covenant with the Muslims will not smell the fragrance of Paradise' (Sahih Bukhari 3166). Additionally, the Prophet stated: 'The termination of the world is less serious in Allah's sight than the killing of a Muslim' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1395).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to view human life as infinitely precious and to recognize that each act of unjust violence represents a crime against all humanity, not merely the individual. For contemporary readers, it offers a powerful moral framework for valuing peace, justice, and the protection of innocent lives regardless of background or belief.