Surah Al-Ma'ida 5:32 — translation and meaning
المائدة · Verse 32 / 120 · Page 113
ۚ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ
Word by Word
Transliteration
min ajli zaalika katabnaa 'alaa Banee Israaa'eela annahoo man qatala nnafsam bighairi nafsin aw fasaadin fil ardi faka annnamaa qatalan fil ardi faka annammaa qatalan naasa jamee'anw wa man ahyaahaa faka annamaaa ahyan naasa jamee'aa; wa laqad jaaa'at hum Rusulunaa bilbaiyinaati summa inna kaseeram minhum ba'da zaalika fil ardi lamusrifoon
Translation
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.
Verse interpretation (Tafsir)
Due to Cain’s murder of his brother, I informed the Israelites that any person who kills another person for no valid reason – such as legal retribution or as punishment for causing corruption in the land by treason or waging war – it is as if he has killed all people, since he did not make a distinction between an innocent and a guilty person. Whoever refrains from killing a person whose soul I have made sacred, and regards it to be forbidden to kill such a person, it is as if he has given life to all people, because in such an action lies the safety of all people. My messengers brought to the Israelites clear signs and evidences. Despite this many of them overstepped My limits by committing sins and going against the messengers.
Source: Al-Mukhtasar Tafsir — Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies.
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