Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 179

Mufti Taqi Usmani

There is life for you in QiSāS, O people of wisdom, so that you may refrain (from killing).

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

There is ˹security of˺ life for you in ˹the law of˺ retaliation, O  people of reason, so that you may become mindful ˹of Allah˺.

Ruwwad Translation Center

In the legal retribution, there is [saving of] life for you, O people of understanding, so that you may become righteous.

A. J. Arberry

In retaliation there is life for you, men possessed of minds; haply you will be godfearing.

Abdul Haleem

Fair retribution saves life for you, people of understanding, so that you may guard yourselves against what is wrong. When death approaches one of you who leaves wealth,

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And for you in retaliation is life men of insight! that haply ye may fear God.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

In the Law of Equality there is (saving of) Life to you, o ye men of understanding; that ye may restrain yourselves.

Abul Ala Maududi

There is security of life for you in the law of retribution. It is expected that you will refrain from breaking this law.

Ahmed Ali

In retribution there is life (and preservation). O men of sense, you may haply take heed for yourselves.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And there is life for you in retribution, O men of understanding, so that you may avoid.

Ali Quli Qarai

There is life for you in retribution, O you who possess intellects! Maybe you will be Godwary!

Ali Ünal

There is life for you in retaliation, (if you understand,) O people of discernment, so it may be that you (will perceive it and fulfill God’s command and in so doing) attain the desired piety and righteousness and deserve His protection.

Amatul Rahman Omar

O people of pure and clear wisdom! your very life lies in (the law of) equitable retaliation, (you have been so commanded) so that you may enjoy security.

English Literal

And for you in the revenge (is) life/growth , you (owners) of the pure minds/hearts, maybe you fear and obey (God).

Faridul Haque

And there is life for you in retribution, O men of understanding, so that you may avoid.

Hamid S. Aziz

In retaliation (or the law of Equivalence) there is life for you, O you possessors of understanding! That you may ward of evil.

Hilali & Khan

And there is (a saving of) life for you in Al-Qisas (the Law of Equality in punishment), O men of understanding, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V. 2:2).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And there is life for you in retaliation, O men of understanding, that you may guard yourselves.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And there is life for you in (the law of) retaliation, O men of understanding, that you may guard yourselves.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And there is life for you in retaliation, O men of understanding, that ye may ward off (evil).

Muhammad Sarwar

People of understanding, the law of the death penalty as retaliation grants you life so that perhaps you will have fear of God.

Qaribullah & Darwish

O owners of minds, for you in retaliation is life, in order that you be cautious.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And there is (a saving of) life for you in Al-Qisas (the Law of equality in punishment), O men of understanding, that you may acquire Taqwa.

Wahiduddin Khan

In [this law of] retribution there is life for you, O people of understanding, so that perhaps you will be mindful of God.

Talal Itani

There is life for you in retaliation, O people of understanding, so that you may refrain.

Tafsir jalalayn

In retaliation there is life for you, that is great longevity, O people of pith, possessors of intellect, because if the would-be killer knew that he would be killed [in retaliation], he would refrain [from such action] and would have thereby given life to himself and to the one whom he had intended to kill; and so it [retaliation] was stipulated by the Law, so that you might fear killing, fearing retaliation.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقِصَاصِ حَيَاةٌ

And there is life for you in Al-Qisas,

legislating the Law of equality, i.e., killing the murderer, carries great benefits for you. This way, the sanctity of life will be preserved because the killer will refrain from killing, as he will be certain that if he kills, he would be killed. Hence life will be preserved.

In previous Books, there is a statement that killing stops further killing! This meaning came in much clearer and eloquent terms in the Qur'an;
وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقِصَاصِ حَيَاةٌ
(And there is (a saving of) life for you in Al-Qisas (the Law of equality in punishment).

Abu Al-Aliyah said,

"Allah made the Law of equality a `life'. Hence, how many a man who thought about killing, but this Law prevented him from killing for fear that he will be killed in turn."

Similar statements were reported from Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Malik, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi bin Anas and Muqatil bin Hayyan.

Allah's statement;

يَاْ أُولِيْ الَالْبَابِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ



O men of understanding, that you may acquire Taqwa.

means, `O you who have sound minds, comprehension and understanding! Perhaps by this you will be compelled to refrain from transgressing the prohibitions of Allah and what He considers sinful.'
Taqwa (mentioned in the Ayah) is a word that means doing all acts of obedience and refraining from all prohibitions