لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّائِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ ﴿۱۷۷﴾ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِصَاصُ فِي الْقَتْلَى الْحُرُّ بِالْحُرِّ وَالْعَبْدُ بِالْعَبْدِ وَالْأُنْثَى بِالْأُنْثَى فَمَنْ عُفِيَ لَهُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ شَيْءٌ فَاتِّبَاعٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَأَدَاءٌ إِلَيْهِ بِإِحْسَانٍ ذَلِكَ تَخْفِيفٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَلَهُ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿۱۷۸﴾
﴾177﴿ Laisal birra an tuwalloo wujoohakum qibalal mashriqi walmaghribi wa laakinnal birra man aamana billaahi wal yawmil aakhiri wal malaaa 'ikati wal kitaabi wan nabiyyeena wa aatalmaala 'alaa hubbihee zawilqurbaa walyataa maa walmasaakeena wabnas sabeeli wassaaa'ileena wa firriqaabi wa aqaamas salaata wa aataz zakaata walmoofoona bi ahdihim izaa 'aahadoo wasaabireena fil baasaaa'i waddarraaa'i wa heenal baas; ulaaa'ikal lazeena sadaqoo wa ulaaa 'ika humul muttaqoon
﴾178﴿ Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanoo kutiba alaikumul qisaasu fil qatlaa alhurru bilhurri wal'abdu bil'abdi wal unsaa bil unsaa; faman 'ufiya lahoo min akheehi shai'un fattibaa'um bilma'roofi wa adaaa'un ilaihi bi ihsaan; zaalika takhfeefum mir rabikum wa rahmah; famani' tadaa ba'da zaalika falahoo 'azaabun aleem
﴾177﴿ Righteousness is not merely that you turn your faces toward the East or the West, but true righteousness is in one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Books, and the prophets, and who gives wealth—despite loving it—to relatives, orphans, the needy, travelers, those who ask, and for freeing slaves.
And those who establish prayer and give zakat, and those who fulfill their promises when they make them, and those who are patient in hardship, illness, and during battle—those are the ones who are truthful, and it is they who are the truly God-fearing.
﴾178﴿ O believers, prescribed for you is retribution regarding those who are killed: a free person for a free person, a slave for a slave, and a woman for a woman.
But if any remission is granted to someone by his brother, then let there be a fair follow-up and payment to him with kindness.
This is a concession and mercy from your Lord.
So whoever transgresses after this—for him is a painful punishment.
[177] From this verse up to verse 274 is the third section regarding jihad, and within it are four themes.
The first theme runs from this verse to verse 195.
It includes ten matters for the refinement of character—five related to belief and five to physical and financial actions—indicating that purifying one’s own soul is the first necessity.
Then four matters are mentioned for civil governance: retribution (qisas), good will in bequests, fasting, and avoidance of unlawful wealth.
The objective in all this is to establish security:
One, security of lives—which is external, such as through qisas;
Two, moral security—such as through fasting;
Three, security of wealth—ensured through sound wills;
And fourth, by guarding oneself from unlawful earnings.
Then comes the declaration of war with its etiquettes and the encouragement of spending.
The People of the Book had made the issue of the qiblah the standard for righteousness—even though they committed shirk and denied the Messenger, they claimed that whoever turned toward the qiblah would enter Paradise.
This verse responds that the basis of righteousness and entry into Paradise lies in correct belief, not merely in the qiblah.
Note: In our Shariah, a person of the Qiblah is one who accepts the oneness of Allah, the Prophethood, and all the essentials of the religion, and acknowledges the Ka‘bah as the Qiblah. Such a person cannot be called a disbeliever.
Therefore, one who commits disbelief or shirk—even if they perform prayers facing the Qiblah—cannot be considered a true believer.
For example, the Qadiani who denies the finality of Prophethood, and the grave-worshipers and saint-worshipers who prostrate and perform acts of worship at graves and to saints.
(The East and the West): These are mentioned metaphorically, meaning the paths of religion.
(Out of love for Him): The pronoun “Him” refers either to Allah or to wealth.
Loving wealth means that the wealth is valuable or that it is being given before death.
(For freeing necks): Refers to freeing someone from slavery or paying off their debts.
This giving of wealth becomes obligatory due to the need of these individuals and when the giver has the financial ability.
(Their promise): Refers to all promises—those made to Allah and His Messenger (May Allah bless him and give him peace), or between one another.
(Hardship): Refers to trials involving wealth.
(Suffering): Refers to trials involving the body.
[178] In this verse is the first ruling of public law, which is qisas (retribution)—meaning that executing retribution and handing over the killer is obligatory.
After that, the heirs have the option to pardon.
According to the first meaning (“O you who believe”), the address is to the rulers, and according to the second meaning, it is to the killers.
In both cases, establishing qisas requires authority, which is why the address is general to the believers.
(A free person for a free person): This indicates that qisas must be applied equally to both the strong and the weak.
Three categories are mentioned: men and women, the free and slaves.
(But if any remission is granted to someone by his brother): “His brother” refers to the one killed, implying that even with this murder, the bond of faith is not broken.
(Something): This indicates that if even one of the heirs of the murdered person grants pardon, it is considered a complete pardon.
Thus, there's no need to mention blood money explicitly, because a Muslim’s blood can never be free of either qisas or blood money.