( …وَلَكُمْ ) (..And there is for you…): this legislation carries benefits for all of you; because the legislation of Allah (swt) concerns all humanity, not just part of them. In other words, if you are assaulting others, then the retribution legislation is against you, while it is at the side of the others; because you are the aggressor. So, what is meant by (for you) is the whole society.

( … الْقِصَاصِ ) (..legal retribution…): This Arabic word is derived from the verb (Qass) which means tracing, and in this context means to trace the crime.

( … حَيَاةٌ…) (..[saving of] life…): Because without legal retribution and punishment the sanctity of life would not be preserved, and people would turn into aggressors. So why do you look at the one who deserves the punishment as a normal human being and not as a criminal? Why do you say, this punishment is severe? The sanctions law in Islam were legislated for the sake of deterring and preventing. If you do not abstain or be deterred, the penalty will be your reward. Therefore, penal laws have been stated and penalties have been legislated. This is an important matter, for if we do not punish the murderer, the thief and…., life would become unbearable mess. Sadly, nowadays, even though there are courts, punishments and retribution, yet, people have not been deterred.

( … يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ…) (..O you [people] of understanding…): Who have sound minds will comprehend that retribution brings life not death.  This punishment was set for keeping life and not for death, it was put for others to live. The criminal, the murderer, the thief and the adulterer must receive the punishment. Applying punishments prevent crimes and protect society. Hence, does the legal retribution against the murderer brings death or life?  When you issue a judgement against a criminal, you save thousands of people because you have prevented the crime, and this is the basis of the sanctions law. People of reason know that by these rules nations are saved.

( لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ …) (that you may become righteous….): Just as you have rights, you also have duties. In order to take a right you have to do a duty in return to the homeland and society.