The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

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The Quran 2: 178
178 You who believe, fair retribution a is prescribed for you in cases
of murder: the free man for the free man, the slave for the slave, the
female for the female. b But if the culprit is pardoned by his
aggrieved brother, this shall be adhered to fairly, and the culprit shall
pay what is due in a good way. This is an alleviation from your Lord
and an act of mercy. If anyone then exceeds these limits, grievous
suffering awaits him. 179 Fair retribution saves life for you, people of
understanding, so that you may guard yourselves against what is
wrong.
When death approaches one of you who leaves wealth, 180 it is
prescribed that he should make a proper bequest to parents and close
relatives – a duty incumbent on those who are mindful of God. 181 If
anyone alters the bequest after hearing it, the guilt of the alteration
will fall on them: God is all hearing and all knowing. 182 But if anyone
knows c that the testator has made a mistake, or done wrong, and so
puts things right between the parties, he will incur no sin: God is
most forgiving and merciful.
183 You who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed
for those before you, so that you may be mindful of God.
184 Fast for a specific number of days, but if one of you is ill, or on a
journey, on other days later. For those who can fast only with extreme
difficulty, there is a way to compensate – feed a needy person. But if
anyone does good of his own accord, it is better for him, and fasting is
better for you, if only you knew. 185 It was in the month of Ramadan
that the Quran was revealed as guidance for mankind, clear messages
giving guidance and distinguishing between right and wrong. So any
one of you who is present that month should fast, and anyone who is
ill or on a journey should make up for the lost days by fasting on other
days later. God wants ease for you, not hardship. He wants you to
complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him for having guided
you, so that you may be thankful. 186 [Prophet], if My servants ask you
about Me, I am near. I respond to those who call Me, so let them
respond to Me, and believe in Me, so that they may be guided.
a qisas etymologically means ‘to track down’.
b Before Islam, the Arabs did not observe equality in retribution, but a stronger tribe
would demand more, e.g. a man for a woman, a free man for a slave, or several men for
one man, likewise for financial compensation. The intention of this verse is to insist on
equality.
c One meaning of khafa is ‘to know’ (al-Mujam al-Wasit).