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Al-Qur'an Surah Al-An'am Verse 151

Al-An'am [6]: 151 ~ English Qur'an Word By Word and Multi Tafseer

۞ قُلْ تَعَالَوْا اَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ اَلَّا تُشْرِكُوْا بِهٖ شَيْـًٔا وَّبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ اِحْسَانًاۚ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوْٓا اَوْلَادَكُمْ مِّنْ اِمْلَاقٍۗ نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَاِيَّاهُمْ ۚوَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَۚ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِيْ حَرَّمَ اللّٰهُ اِلَّا بِالْحَقِّۗ ذٰلِكُمْ وَصّٰىكُمْ بِهٖ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُوْنَ (الأنعام : ٦)

qul
قُلْ
Say
taʿālaw
تَعَالَوْا۟
"Come
atlu
أَتْلُ
I will recite
مَا
what
ḥarrama
حَرَّمَ
has prohibited
rabbukum
رَبُّكُمْ
your Lord
ʿalaykum
عَلَيْكُمْۖ
to you
allā
أَلَّا
That (do) not
tush'rikū
تُشْرِكُوا۟
associate
bihi
بِهِۦ
with Him
shayan
شَيْـًٔاۖ
anything
wabil-wālidayni
وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ
and with the parents
iḥ'sānan
إِحْسَٰنًاۖ
(be) good
walā
وَلَا
and (do) not
taqtulū
تَقْتُلُوٓا۟
kill
awlādakum
أَوْلَٰدَكُم
your children
min
مِّنْ
(out) of
im'lāqin
إِمْلَٰقٍۖ
poverty
naḥnu
نَّحْنُ
We
narzuqukum
نَرْزُقُكُمْ
provide for you
wa-iyyāhum
وَإِيَّاهُمْۖ
and for them
walā
وَلَا
And (do) not
taqrabū
تَقْرَبُوا۟
go near
l-fawāḥisha
ٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ
[the] immoralities
مَا
what
ẓahara
ظَهَرَ
(is) apparent
min'hā
مِنْهَا
of them
wamā
وَمَا
and what
baṭana
بَطَنَۖ
(is) concealed
walā
وَلَا
And (do) not
taqtulū
تَقْتُلُوا۟
kill
l-nafsa
ٱلنَّفْسَ
the soul
allatī
ٱلَّتِى
which
ḥarrama
حَرَّمَ
has (been) forbidden
l-lahu
ٱللَّهُ
(by) Allah
illā
إِلَّا
except
bil-ḥaqi
بِٱلْحَقِّۚ
by (legal) right
dhālikum
ذَٰلِكُمْ
That
waṣṣākum
وَصَّىٰكُم
(He) has enjoined on you
bihi
بِهِۦ
with it
laʿallakum
لَعَلَّكُمْ
so that you may
taʿqilūna
تَعْقِلُونَ
use reason"

Transliteration:

Qul ta'aalaw atlu maa harrama Rabbukum 'alaikum allaa tushrikoo bihee shai'anw wa bilwaalidaini ihsaananw wa laa taqtulooo aw alaadakum min imlaaq; nahnu narzuqukum wa iyyaahum wa laa taqrabul fawaahisha maa zahara minhaa wa maa batana wa laa taqtulun nafsal latee harramal laahu illaa bilhaqq; zaalikum wassaakum bihee la'allakum ta'qiloon (QS. al-ʾAnʿām:151)

English / Sahih Translation:

Say, "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you. [He commands] that you not associate anything with Him, and to parents, good treatment, and do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them. And do not approach immoralities – what is apparent of them and what is concealed. And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed] except by [legal] right. This has He instructed you that you may use reason." (QS. Al-An'am, ayah 151)

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Say (O Prophet to the infidels), “Come, and I shall recite what your Lord has prohibited for you: Do not associate anything with Him (as His partner); and be good to parents, and do not kill your children because of poverty - We will give provision to you, and to them as well - and do not go near shameful acts, whether they are open or secret; and do not kill a person whom Allah has given sanctity, except rightfully. This He has enjoined upon you, so that you may understand.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Come! Let me recite to you what your Lord has forbidden to you: do not associate others with Him ˹in worship˺. ˹Do not fail to˺ honour your parents. Do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for you and for them. Do not come near indecencies, openly or secretly. Do not take a ˹human˺ life—made sacred by Allah—except with ˹legal˺ right.[[ For example, in retaliation for intentional killing through legal channels. ]] This is what He has commanded you, so perhaps you will understand.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Say [O Prophet], “Come, I will recite to you what your Lord has forbidden to you: do not associate any partners with Him, and honor your parents. Do not kill your children for fear of poverty, for We provide for you and for them. Do not approach shameful acts, whether openly or in secret. Do not kill the soul sanctified by Allah, except lawfully. This is what He commands you, so that you may understand.

A. J. Arberry

Say: 'Come, I will recite what your Lord has forbidden you: that you associate not anything with Him, and to be good to your parents, and not to slay your children because of poverty; We will provide you and them and that you approach not any indecency outward or inward, and that you slay not the soul God has forbidden, except by right. That then He has charged you with; haply you will understand.

Abdul Haleem

Say, ‘Come! I will tell you what your Lord has really forbidden you. Do not ascribe anything as a partner to Him; be good to your parents; do not kill your children in fear of poverty’- We will provide for you and for them- ‘ stay well away from committing obscenities, whether openly or in secret; do not take the life God has made sacred, except by right. This is what He commands you to do: perhaps you will use your reason.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Say thou: come, I shall recite that which your Lord hath forbidden unto you: associate not aught with Him, and shew kindness unto the parents, and slay not your offspring for fear of want - We it is who shall provide for you and them -and approach not indecencies, whatsoever is open thereof and whatsoever is concealed, and slay not anyone whom Allah hath forbidden except for justification. Thus He enjoineth you that haply ye may reflect.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Say; "Come, I will rehearse what Allah hath (really) prohibited you from"; Join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents; kill not your children on a plea of want;- We provide sustenance for you and for them;- come not nigh to shameful deeds. Whether open or secret; take not life, which Allah hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law; thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom.

Abul Ala Maududi

Say to them (O Muhammad!): 'Come, let me recite what your Lord has laid down to you: (i) that you associate nothing with Him; (ii) and do good to your parents; (iii) and do not slay your children out of fear of poverty. We provide you and will likewise provide them with sustenance; (iv) and do not even draw to things shameful - be they open or secret; (v) and do not slay the soul santified by Allah except in just cause; this He has enjoined upon you so that you may understand;

Ahmed Ali

Tell them: "Come, I will read out what your Lord has made binding on you: That you make none the equal of God, and be good to your parents, and do not abandon your children out of poverty, for We give you food and We shall provide for them; and avoid what is shameful, whether open or hidden, and do not take a life which God has forbidden, unless for some just cause. These things has God enjoined on you. Haply you may understand.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Say, “Come – so that I may recite to you what your Lord has forbidden for you that ‘Do not ascribe any partner to Him and be good to parents; and do not kill your children because of poverty; We shall provide sustenance for all – you and them; and do not approach lewd things, the open among them or concealed; and do not unjustly kill any life which Allah has made sacred; this is the command to you, so that you may have sense.’

Ali Quli Qarai

Say, ‘Come, I will recount what your Lord has forbidden you. That you shall not ascribe any partners to Him, and you shall be good to the parents, you shall not kill your children due to penury—We will provide for you and for them—you shall not approach indecencies, the outward among them and the inward ones, and you shall not kill a soul [whose life] Allah has made inviolable, except with due cause. This is what He has enjoined upon you so that you may exercise your reason.

Ali Ünal

Say: "Come, let me recite what your Lord has made unlawful for you: that you associate nothing with Him; and (do not offend against but, rather) treat your parents in the best way possible; and that you do not kill your children for fear of poverty – it is We Who provide for you as well as for them; and that you do not draw near to any shameful thing (like adultery, fornication, and homosexuality), whether committed openly or secretly; and that you do not kill any soul, which God has made sacred and forbidden, except in just cause. All this He has enjoined upon you, that you may use your reason (and so believe, know right from wrong, and follow His way).

Amatul Rahman Omar

Say, `Come, I will rehearse to you what your Lord has made binding on you; it is that you shall associate not any thing as partner with Him, and that you shall be good to parents, and that you waste not your children because of poverty. It is We Who make provisions for you as well for them too. (Allâh has also enjoined upon you that you) approach not indecencies, whether open or hidden, and that you kill no soul which Allâh has made sacred, except in the cause of justice.´ This has He enjoined you with, so that you may (learn to) abstain (from evil).

English Literal

Say: "Come I (will) read/recite what your Lord forbade on you, that do not make partners with Him (in) a thing, and with the parents (treat with) goodness, and do not kill your children from poverty We provide for you and them, and do not approach/near the enormous/atrocious deeds , what is visible from it, and what is hidden, and do not kill the self that God forbade, except with the right , that He directed/commanded you with it, maybe you reason/comprehend ."

Faridul Haque

Say, “Come - so that I may recite to you what your Lord has forbidden for you that ‘Do not ascribe any partner to Him and be good to parents; and do not kill your children because of poverty; We shall provide sustenance for all - you and them; and do not approach lewd things, the open among them or concealed; and do not unjustly kill any life which Allah has made sacred; this is the command to you, so that you may have sense.’

Hamid S. Aziz

Say, "Come! I will recite what your Lord has made a sacred duty for you - that you may ascribe no partner unto Him; that you do good to your parents; and that you slay not your children because of poverty, for We will provide for you and them; and that you draw not nigh to lewd sins, either apparent or concealed; and kill not the life, which Allah hath made sacred save in the course of justice; this is what Allah commands you, per chance (or possibly) you may understand." (See the Ten Commandments in Exodus, Chapter 20 and Deuteronomy, Chapter 5.)

Hilali & Khan

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty - We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to Al-Fawahish (shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islamic law). This He has commanded you that you may understand.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Say: Bring your witnesses who bear witness that Allah forbade this. If they bear witness, then do not thou bear witness with them. And follow not the low desires of those who reject Our messages and those who believe not in the Hereafter, and they make (others) equal with their Lord.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Say: Come I will recite what your Lord has forbidden to you-- (remember) that you do not associate anything with Him and show kindness to your parents, and do not slay your children for (fear of) poverty-- We provide for you and for them-- and do not draw nigh to indecencies, those of them which are apparent and those which are concealed, and do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except for the requirements of justice; this He has enjoined you with that you may understand.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Say: Come, I will recite unto you that which your Lord hath made a sacred duty for you: That ye ascribe no thing as partner unto Him and that ye do good to parents, and that ye slay not your children because of penury - We provide for you and for them - and that ye draw not nigh to lewd things whether open or concealed. And that ye slay not the life which Allah hath made sacred, save in the course of justice. This He hath command you, in order that ye may discern.

Muhammad Sarwar

(Muhammad), say, "Let me tell you about what your Lord has commanded: Do not consider anything equal to God; Be kind to your parents; Do not murder your children out of fear of poverty, for We give sustenance to you and to them. Do not even approach indecency either in public or in private. Take not a life which God has made sacred except by way of justice and law. Thus does He command you that you may learn wisdom.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Say: 'Come, I will recite to you what your Lord forbids you; that you shall associate anything with Him; that you shall be good to your parents, that you shall not kill your children because of poverty, We provide for you and for them, that you shall not commit foul deeds whether openly or in secret, and that you shall not kill the soul that Allah has forbidden except by right. With such Allah charges you, in order that you understand.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Say: "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be kind and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty -- We provide sustenance for you and for them. Come not near to Al-Fawahish (immoral sins) whether committed openly or secretly; and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause. This He has commanded you that you may understand."

Wahiduddin Khan

Say, "Come! I will tell you what your Lord has really forbidden you! Do not associate anything with Him; be good to your parents; and do not kill your children for fear of poverty, We shall provide sustenance for you as well as for them, refrain from committing indecent deeds, whether openly or in secret; and do not kill the life which God has made sacred, save by right. That is what He has enjoined upon you, so that you may understand.

Talal Itani

Say, “Come, let me tell you what your Lord has forbidden you: that you associate nothing with Him; that you honor your parents; that you do not kill your children because of poverty—We provide for you and for them; that you do not come near indecencies, whether outward or inward; and that you do not kill the soul which God has sanctified—except in the course of justice. All this He has enjoined upon you, so that you may understand.”

Tafsir jalalayn

Say; `Come, I will recite that which your Lord has made a sacred duty for you; that (all; [consisting of an- l] an being explicative) you associate nothing with Him, that you be dutiful to parents, and that you do not slay your children, by burying them alive, because of poverty, destitution, that you may fear -- We will provide for you and them -- and that you do not draw near any acts of lewdness, grave sins, such as fornication, whether it be manifest or concealed, that is, [acts committed] overtly or in secret, and that you do not slay the life which God has made sacred, except rightfully, as in the case of retaliation, or [as] the prescribed punishment for apostasy, and the stoning of an adulterer. This, which is mentioned, is what He has charged you with, that perhaps you will understand, reflect.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Ten Commandments

Dawud Al-Awdy narrated that, Ash-Sha`bi said that, Alqamah said that Ibn Mas`ud said,

"Whoever wishes to read the will and testament of the Messenger of Allah on which he placed his seal, let him read these Ayat,

قُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَلاَّ تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْيًا

Say;"Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from;Join not anything in worship with Him...") until,
لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
(...so that you may have Taqwa." (6;153)

In his Mustadrak, Al-Hakim recorded that Ibn Abbas said,

"In Surah Al-An`am, there are clear Ayat, and they are the Mother of the Book (the Qur'an)."

He then recited,

قُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ

Say;"Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from..."

Al-Hakim said,

"Its chain is Sahih, and they did not record it."

In his Mustadrak Al-Hakim also recorded that Ubadah bin As-Samit said,

"The Messenger of Allah said,

أَيُّكُمْ يُبَايِعُنِي عَلَى ثَلَث

Who among you will give me his pledge to do three things.

He then recited the Ayah,

قُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ

Say;"Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from..." until the end of the Ayat.

He then said,

فَمَنْ وَفَى فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللهِ وَمَنِ انْتَقَصَ مِنْهُنَّ شَيْيًا فَأَدْرَكَهُ اللهُ بِهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَانَتْ عُقُوبَتهُ وَمَنْ أَخَّرَ إِلَى الاْخِرَةِ فَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللهِ إِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُ وَإِنْ شَاءَ عَفَا عَنْه

Whoever fulfills (this pledge), then his reward will be with Allah, but whoever fell into shortcomings and Allah punishes him for it in this life, then that will be his recompense. Whoever Allah delays (his reckoning) until the Hereafter, then his matter is with Allah. If He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will forgive him."

Al-Hakim said, "Its chain is Sahih and they did not record it."

As for the explanation of this Ayah, Allah said to His Prophet and Messenger Muhammad;

Say, O Muhammad, to those idolators who worshipped other than Allah, forbade what Allah provided them with and killed their children, following their opinions and the lures of the devils,'

قُلْ

Say, (to them),

تَعَالَوْاْ

Come, (come here, come close),

أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ

I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from.

meaning, I will inform you about what your Lord has forbidden for you in truth, not guessing or wishful thinking. Rather, it is revelation and an order from Him.
Shirk is Forbidden

Allah said,

أَلاَّ تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْيًا

Join not anything in worship with Him;

this Allah has ordained, for He said at the end of the Ayah,
ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
(This He has commanded you that you may understand).

In the the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah said,

أَتَانِي جِبْرِيلُ فَبَشَّرَنِي أَنَّهُ مَنْ مَاتَ لَا يُشْرِكُ بِاللهِ شَيْيًا مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ

Jibril came to me and conveyed the good news that, "Whoever among your followers dies, worshipping none along with Allah, will enter Paradise."

قُلْتُ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ




I said, "Even if he stole or committed illegal sexual intercourse!"

قَالَ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ

He said, "Even if he stole or committed illegal sexual intercourse."

قُلْتُ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ




I said, "Even if he stole or committed illegal sexual intercourse!"

قَالَ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ

He said, "Even if he stole or committed illegal sexual intercourse."

قُلْت وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ




I said, "Even if he stole or committed illegal sexual intercourse!"

قَالَ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ وَإِنْ شَرِبَ الْخَمْر

He said, "Even if he stole or committed illegal sexual intercourse or even if drank alcohol."

Some of the Musnad and Sunan compilers recorded that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah said,

يَقُولُ تَعَالَى يَا ابْنَ ادَمَ إِنَّكَ مَا دَعَوْتَنِي وَرَجَوْتَنِي فَإِنِّي أَغْفِرُ لَكَ عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْكَ وَلَا أُبَالِي وَلَوْ أَتَيْتَنِي بِقُرَابِ الاَْرْضِ خَطِييَةً أَتَيْتُكَ بِقُرَابِهَا مَغْفِرَةً مَا لَمْ تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْيًا وَإِنْ أَخْطَأْتَ حَتَّى تَبْلُغَ خَطَاَياكَ عَنَانَ السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَك

Allah said, `O Son of Adam! As long as you supplicate to Me and hope of Me, I will forgive whatever you committed, and it will be easy for Me to do that. And even if you brought the earth's fill of sins to Me, I will bring forth its fill of forgiveness, as long as you do not associate anything or anyone in worship with Me. And even if you err and your errors accumulate until they reach the boundaries of the sky and you then ask Me for forgiveness, I will forgive you.'

This subject is also mentioned in the Qur'an, for Allah said,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَن يَشَأءُ

Verily, Allah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners (in worship) with Him, but He forgives whom He wills, sins other than that. (4;116)

Muslim recorded a Hadith in the Sahih that reads,

مَنْ مَاتَ لَا يُشْرِكُ بِاللهِ شَيْيًا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّـة

Whoever dies associating none with Allah will enter Paradise.

There are many Ayat and Hadiths on this subject.
The Order for Kindness to Parents

Allah said next,

وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا

be kind and dutiful to your parents;

meaning, Allah has commanded and ordered you to be kind to your parents.

Allah said in another Ayah,

وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّـهُ وَبِالْوَلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـناً

And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. (17;23)

Allah often mentions obeying Him and being dutiful to parents together.

Allah said,

وَوَصَّيْنَا الاِنْسَـنَ بِوَلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْناً عَلَى وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ الْمَصِيرُ

وَإِن جَـهَدَاكَ عَلَى أَن تُشْرِكَ بِى مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَ تُطِعْهُمَا وَصَـحِبْهُمَا فِى الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفاً وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَىَّ ثُمَّ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّيُكُمْ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

Give thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination. But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not; but behave with them in this world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do. (31;14-15)

Therefore, Allah ordered children to be dutiful and kind to their parents, even if they were idolators.

Allah also said,

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـقَ بَنِى إِسْرءِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَبِالْوَلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا

And (remember) when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel, (saying);Worship none but Allah and be dutiful and kind to parents. (2;83)

There are several Ayat on this subject.

It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Ibn Mas`ud said,

"I asked Allah's Messenger about which deed is the best. He said,

الصَّلَةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا

The prayer, when it is performed on time.

I said, `Then.'

He said,

بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْن

Being dutiful to parents.

I asked, `Then.'

He said,

الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ الله
Jihad in Allah's cause.

Ibn Mas`ud said,

"The Messenger of Allah said these words to me, and had I asked him for more, he would have said more."
Killing Children is Forbidden

Allah said,

وَلَا تَقْتُلُواْ أَوْلَادَكُم مِّنْ إمْلَقٍ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ

Kill not your children because of poverty, We shall provide sustenance for you and for them.

After Allah commanded kindness to parents and grandparents, He next ordered kindness to children and grandchildren. Allah said,
وَلَا تَقْتُلُواْ أَوْلَادَكُم مِّنْ إمْلَقٍ
(kill not your children because of poverty), because the idolators used to kill their children, obeying the lures of the devils. They used to bury their daughters alive for fear of shame, and sometimes kill their sons for fear of poverty.

It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Abdullah bin Mas`ud said,

"I asked the Messenger of Allah, `Which sin is the biggest?'

He said,

أَنْ تَجْعَلَ للهِ نِدًّا وَهُوَ خَلَقَك

To call a rival for Allah, while He Alone created you.

I said, `Then what?'

He said,

أَنْ تَقْتُلَ وَلَدَكَ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يَطْعَمَ مَعَك

To kill your son for fear that he might share your food.

I said, `Then what?'

He said,

أَنْ تُزَانِي حَلِيلَةَ جَارِك

To commit adultery with your neighbor's wife.

Then the Messenger of Allah recited the Ayah,

وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهَا ءَاخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِى حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ

And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah, nor kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse..." (25;68)

Allah's statement,
مِّنْ إمْلَقٍ
(Because of Imlaq),

According to Ibn Abbas, Qatadah, As-Suddi and others,

refers to poverty.

The Ayah means, do not kill your children because you are poor.

Allah said in Surah Al-Isra',
وَلَا تَقْتُلُواْ أَوْلادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلقٍ
(And do not kill your children for fear from Imlaq). (17;31) that is, do not kill your children for fear that you might become poor in the future. This is why Allah said,
نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُم
(We shall provide sustenance for them and for you) (17;31) thus mentioning the provision of the children first, meaning, do not fear poverty because of feeding your children. Certainly, their provision is provided by Allah.

Allah said,
نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ
(We provide sustenance for you and for them), thus starting with parents, because this is the appropriate subject here and Allah knows.

Allah said next,

وَلَا تَقْرَبُواْ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ

Come not near Al-Fawahish (immoral sins) whether committed openly or secretly.

Allah said in a similar Ayah,

قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالاِثْمَ وَالْبَغْىَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَأَن تُشْرِكُواْ بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَـناً وَأَن تَقُولُواْ عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Say;"(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al-Fawahish (immoral sins) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with Allah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge." (7;33)

We also explained this meaning in the explanation of the Ayah,
وَذَرُواْ ظَاهِرَ الاِثْمِ وَبَاطِنَهُ
(Leave sin, open and secret), (6;120).

The Two Sahihs recorded that Ibn Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah said,

لَاا أَحَدٌ أَغْيَرَ مِنَ اللهِ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ حَرَّمَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَن

None is more jealous than Allah. This is why He has forbidden the immoral sins committed openly or secretly.

Abdul-Malik bin Umayr said that Warrad narrated that Al-Mughirah said that Sa`d bin Ubadah said,

"If I see a man with my wife (committing adultery), I will kill him with the sword."

When the matter came to the Messenger of Allah, he said,

أَتَعْجَبُونَ مِنْ غَيْرةِ سَعْدٍ فَوَاللهِ لَاَنَا أَغْيَرُ مِنْ سَعْدٍ وَاللهُ أَغْيَرُ مِنِّي مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ حَرَّمَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَن

Do you wonder at Sa`d's jealousy By Allah, I am more jealous than Sa`d, and Allah is more jealous than I. This is why He has forbidden the immoral sins committed openly and in secret.

This Hadith is in the Two Sahihs.
The Prohibition of Unjustified Killing

Allah said,

وَلَا تَقْتُلُواْ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ

And kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islamic law).

This part of the Ayah emphasizes this prohibition in specific, although it is included in the immoral sins committed openly and in secret.

In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah said,

لَاا يَحِلُّ دَمُ امْرِىءٍ مُسْلِمٍ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَاا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ إِلاَّ بِإِحْدَى ثَلَاثٍ الثَّيِّبُ الزَّانِي وَالنَّفْسُ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالتَّارِكُ لِدِينِهِ الْمُفَارِقُ لِلْجَمَاعَة

The blood of a Muslim person who testifies that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah is prohibited, except for three offenses;a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse, life for life, and whoever reverts from the religion and abandons the Jama`ah (the community of faithful believers).

There is a prohibition, a warning and a threat against killing the Mu`ahid, i.e., non-Muslims who have a treaty of peace with Muslims.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Abdullah bin `Amr said that the Prophet said,

مَنْ قَتَلَ مُعَاهِدًا لَمْ يَرَحْ رَايِحَةَ الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنَّ رِيحَهَا لَيُوجَدُ مِنْ مَسِيرَةِ أَرْبَعِينَ عَامًّا

Whoever killed a person having a treaty of protection with Muslims, shall not smell the scent of Paradise, though its scent is perceived from a distance of forty years.

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said,

مَنْ قَتَلَ مُعَاهِدًا لَهُ ذِمَّةُ اللهِ وَذِمَّةُ رَسُولِهِ فَقَدْ أَخْفَرَ بِذِمَّةِ اللهِ فَلَ يَرَحْ رَايِحَةَ الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنَّ رِيحَهَا لَيُوجَدُ مِنْ مَسِيرَةِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا

Whoever killed a person having a treaty of protection with the Muslims, and who enjoys the guarantee of Allah and His Messenger, he will have spoiled the guarantee of Allah (for him). He shall not smell the scent of Paradise though its smell is perceived from a distance of seventy years.

Ibn Majah and At-Tirmidhi recorded this Hadith, and At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih."

Allah's statement,

ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ



This He has commanded you that you may understand.

means, this is what He has commanded you that you may comprehend His commandments and prohibitions