Islam and Human Rights — Page 101
Article 5 101 “Those who break the covenant of Allah after having established it, and cut asunder what Allah has bidden to be joined” (2:28), meaning, those who are not mindful of the ties of kinship. “Would you then, if you are placed in authority, create disorder in the land and cut off your wombs” (47:23), that is to say, sever your ties of kinship? “This building of theirs, which they have built, will ever continue to be a source of disquiet in their hearts, unless their hearts be cut to pieces” (9:110), that is to say, till their hearts become incapable of feeling. Of the people of Lot it is said, “Do you indeed come lustfully to men and cut off the highway?” (29:30), that is to say, destroy its security and thus make it unsafe for travellers. Even when qat’a is used in the literal sense, it does not necessarily mean complete severing. It is said of the women of Egypt, “When they saw him ( Joseph) they thought highly of him and cut their hands [ qatta’na aidceahunna ] and said, ‘Allah be glorified’” (12:32), and when Joseph was summoned to the presence of the King he said to the messenger, “’Go back to thy lord and ask him how fare the women who cut their hands’” (12:51).