The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 287
PT. 2 AL-BAQARAH 180. And there is life for you in the law of retaliation, O men of understanding, that you may enjoy security. 186 capital punishment would be set on foot. So the Omniscient God laid down the law of retaliation in a form that is indispensable for the preservation and protection of human life, as well as the promotion of harmony and goodwill. To prevent crime, Islam really aims at eliminating the conditions that produce it. It seeks to remove the very root-cause of all crime by working a complete moral reformation in man. But it does not remain content with that. It also prescribes deterrent laws in conformity with the dictates of reason, justice and humanity. The fact that, despite efforts to the contrary, the death penalty is still found on the Statute Books of most countries in one form or another, constitutes a sufficient proof of the wisdom of the Islamic teaching. As a matter of fact, even the most enthusiastic an protagonists of the abolition of capital punishment have not yet been able to suggest a suitable alternative to it. They have had to admit that a long term of imprisonment as alternative is "horrible" and is "not an ideal substitute" (Capital Punishment in the Twentieth Century by E. Roy Calvert, G. P. Putnam, London, 1930). The law of retaliation still remains the most effective deterrent to crime and an essential method to satisfy the demands of justice; and the Islamic Law takes a further step 287 CH. 2 وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقِصَاصِ حَيُوةٌ ثَأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُوْنَ to bring about reconciliation between the offender and the aggrieved party. 186. Important Words: الباب (men of understanding) اولوا الالباب is the plural of ✓ (lubb) which is derived from (labba) meaning, he was or became possessed of ✓ i. e. understanding, intellect or intelligence. means, he remained or dwelt لب اللوز. in the place and kept to it means, he broke the almond and took out its kernel. _ therefore, means: (1) the best and choicest part of anything; (2) kernel; (3) pith; (4) heart; (5) mind; (6) understanding, intellect and intelligence, because it is the choicest and best part of man; (7) the substance or essence of a thing (Lane). ✓ is something higher and purer than (understanding), being the brightest and best part of it (Mufradāt). It appears that ✓ is the name given to that quality in man animals and makes him a rational which distinguishes him from other being. Commentary: This verse, small in size but great in weight, points to the wisdom underlying the law of retaliation. The words used are full of beauty of diction of the highest order. As j means the killing of the murderer in retaliation of his act, the expression is like saying, "There is life for you in death, O men of understanding. " How fearful the saying but how eternally