وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ عُدْوَٰنًا وَظُلْمًا فَسَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِ نَارًا ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًا 30
Translations
And whoever does that in aggression and injustice - then We will drive him into a Fire. And that, for Allāh, is [always] easy.
Transliteration
Wa man yaf'al dhalika 'udwanan wa dhulman fasawfa nuslihi nara wa kana dhalika 'ala-Allahi yasir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those who wrongfully and unjustly kill believers, and warns them of severe punishment in the Hellfire. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse condemns murder committed with transgression and injustice, emphasizing that such a grave sin will result in eternal torment. The phrase 'and that is easy for Allah' underscores God's complete power and the certainty of His punishment for such heinous acts.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nisa's discussion of the sanctity of life and prohibitions against killing believers unjustly (4:29). It follows the verse forbidding suicide and unlawful killing, serving as a stern warning against murder and transgression in the Medinan period when the Muslim community faced internal and external threats.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever kills a mu'ahid (non-Muslim under Islamic protection) shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise' (Sunan An-Nasa'i 4747). Additionally, 'The greatest sins are to associate partners with Allah, to kill a soul without right, and to disobey parents' (Sunan Ibn Majah 3853).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that taking a life unjustly is among the gravest sins in Islam, with consequences that extend to the afterlife. For modern Muslims, it reinforces the importance of respecting human dignity and the rule of law, and serves as a reminder that all injustices, however hidden, will face divine accountability.